Escovedo's family tree includes former Santana percussionist Pete Escovedo and Pete's daughter, Sheila E (also Prince's former drummer and later a pop star). He began his music career with the Nuns, a mid-'70s punk band based in San Francisco. He co-founded the pioneering cowpunk band Rank and File in 1979, which moved to Austin, Texas, in 1981 after a stint in New York City. The band released Sundown on Slash Records in 1982, but shortly after, Escovedo left to form the True Believers with brother Javier. The band recorded two albums for EMI and toured the country, often as an opening act for Los Lobos. However, EMI opted not to release the second album, which eventually led to the group's break-up. (It eventually surfaced as a bonus item when Rykodisc reissued the first set on CD in 1994.)
Escovedo released a solo album in 1992 on Watermelon Records, Gravity, uniting his wide variety of styles; the album was produced by Stephen Bruton of Bonnie Raitt's band. Escovedo also began gigging periodically with the band Buick MacKane, who fused old-school punk with 70's glam rock; after Rykodisc released Escovedo's With These Hands in 1996, they followed it up with Buick MacKane's long-awaited album. After Escovedo parted ways with Rykodisc, he signed with the Chicago-based alt-country label Bloodshot in 1998, who released the live album More Miles Than Money: Live 1994-1996 and the acclaimed studio set A Man Under The Influence.
In April of 2003, Escovedo collapsed following a show in Phoenix, AZ, and he was subsequently diagnosed with Hepatitis C. An outpouring of support from musicians led to a series of successful benefit concerts to help pay Escovedo's medical expenses and keep his music before the public, followed by a tribute album, Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo, which was released in 2004.
In June 2010, Escovedo released Street Songs of Love.
San Antonio Rose
Alejandro Escovedo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A song of old San Antone
Where in dreams I live with a memory
Beneath the stars all alone
It was there I found beside the Alamo
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
A moonlit pass that only she would know
Still hears my broken song of love
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
Speak once again of my love, my own
Broken song, empty words I know
Still live in my heart all alone
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
Deep within my heart lies a melody,
A song of old San Antone
Where in dreams I live with a memory
Beneath the stars all alone
It was there I found beside the Alamo
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
A moonlit pass that only she would know
Still hears my broken song of love
Moon in all your splendor know only my heart
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
Speak once again of my love, my own
Broken song, empty words I know
Still live in my heart all alone
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
The lyrics of "San Antonio Rose" by Alejandro Escoveda and Jon Langford tell a heartfelt story of love and longing, set in the beautiful city of San Antonio. The singer describes a deep inner connection to this place, where he cherishes memories and dreams of a lost love. The song creates a nostalgic atmosphere, as the singer reminisces about a moonlit pass near the Alamo, a location that holds special significance to him and his beloved.
The lyrics convey a sense of enchantment and longing, as the singer yearns for his lost love, whom he refers to as his "Rose of San Antone." He pleads for the moon to bring her back to him, emphasizing her sweet and tender lips and the deep love he feels for her. Despite the brokenness in his heart and the emptiness he feels in his words, the memories of their love continue to live on within him.
Overall, the lyrics of "San Antonio Rose" evoke a bittersweet and nostalgic mood, capturing the essence of lost love and the enduring power of cherished memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep within my heart lies a melody
In the depths of my soul, there resides a cherished tune
A song of old San Antone
A melodic tribute to the bygone days of San Antonio
Where in dreams I live with a memory
In my fantasies, I dwell with a reminiscence
Beneath the stars all alone
Underneath the celestial bodies, in solitude
It was there I found beside the Alamo
It was in that place next to the Alamo where I discovered
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
An enchantment as peculiar as the azure sky
A moonlit pass that only she would know
A moonlit path known only to her
Still hears my broken song of love
She still hears my song of love, fragmented and wounded
Moon in all your splendor know only my heart
Oh, moon, in your resplendent glory, only my heart comprehends
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
Summon back my beloved, the flower of San Antonio
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
Her lips, so tender and sweet, akin to disintegrating petals
Speak once again of my love, my own
Express once more the devotion we shared, my one and only
Broken song, empty words I know
A melody in ruins, desolate verses I am acquainted with
Still live in my heart all alone
Persisting within my heart, solitary and untouched
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
In remembrance of that moonlit path by the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
And Rose, the woman who captivated me in San Antonio
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Robert Wills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Brickley
One of those truly original artists whose popularity extends to fellow artists and aficionados of unique and one of a kind talents. This man has performed cowpunk, strings and hard rock. He is a flavor all his own. Love this mans music.
Greg
I just found out about this dude and relized just what great music iv'e been missing (WOW).
Rose Nygren
Sweet............................. :-)