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.
Street Songs
Alejandro Escovedo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was movin' sideways
Not lookin' too good
Then I saw her in the parking lot
Wearing Blackmail and she was smokin' pot
On the arm of Antonio
Lookin' for love inside the rodeo
Top ranking in a three piece suit
In lonestar boots
Singing
Street songs of love
Singing
Street songs of love
Singing
Street songs of love
Singing
Street songs of love
I saw her dancing on a beachland night
Movin' for money on some bad advice
Her reflection was her drug of choice
Praticed apologies in a voodoo voice
Her hips were gliding to a
Les Paul scream
Harder then the rest like a tin machine
Top ranking in a mohair suit
Like a tattooed Elvis
In a Jaguar boot
Singing
Street songs of love
Singing
Street songs of love
Singing
Street songs of love
Singing
Street songs of love
The happy hour is winding down
I want to hang but there's no on around
I saw her dancing in the parking lot
Wearing Blackmail and she was smokin' pot
On the arm of Antonio
Lookin' for love inside the rodeo
Top ranking in a gas mask kiss
Like a tattooed Elvis
In a French movie twist
Singing
Street songs of love
Singing
Street songs of love
Singing
Street songs of love
Singing
Street songs of love
The song "Street Songs" by Alejandro Escovedo paints a vivid picture of a woman living on the fringe of society, searching for love and belonging in all the wrong places. The song opens with the singer seeing her in the neighborhood, moving sideways and not looking too good. He then sees her in the parking lot, smoking pot and on the arm of Antonio, looking for love inside the rodeo. The woman is described as top-ranking in a three-piece suit, like a black work model in lonestar boots, and is singing street songs of love.
As the song progresses, the woman is seen dancing on a beachland night, moving for money on some bad advice. Her reflection is her drug of choice, and she practices apologies in a voodoo voice. Her hips are gliding to a Les Paul scream and harder than the rest, like a tin machine. She is top ranking in a mohair suit, like a tattooed Elvis in a Jaguar boot, still singing street songs of love.
In the final verse, it's the end of happy hour and the singer wants to hang out, but there's no one around. He sees the woman again, dancing in the parking lot wearing Blackmail and smoking pot once more, still on the arm of Antonio and looking for love inside the rodeo. She is now top ranking in a gas mask kiss, like a tattooed Elvis in a French movie twist, and still singing street songs of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw her in the neighborhood
He saw a woman in his neighborhood
She was movin' sideways
She was walking in an unusual or erratic way
Not lookin' too good
She appeared unwell, unhealthy or unhappy
Then I saw her in the parking lot
He saw the woman in a parking lot
Wearing Blackmail and she was smokin' pot
She was wearing Blackmail, a brand or style of clothes, and smoking marijuana
On the arm of Antonio
She was with a man named Antonio
Lookin' for love inside the rodeo
She was seeking love or romance while attending or participating in a rodeo event
Top ranking in a three piece suit
She was dressed in a formal and fashionable three-piece suit, and was highly regarded or respected
Like a black work model
She had a similar appearance or demeanor to a model who works in the fashion industry
In lonestar boots
She was wearing boots from the brand Lonestar
Singing Street songs of love
She is singing about love and relationships in a style common in street performances
I saw her dancing on a beachland night
He watched her dance on a beach during the night
Movin' for money on some bad advice
She was dancing in order to make money, but it was not good advice or not the best career choice
Her reflection was her drug of choice
Her own image or appearance was what drove her or made her feel good
Practiced apologies in a voodoo voice
She rehearsed apologies in a voice reminiscent of voodoo practices or beliefs
Her hips were gliding to a Les Paul scream
She was dancing to the sound of a guitar known as Les Paul while moving her hips seductively
Harder then the rest like a tin machine
She danced more energetically or passionately than anyone else, like a machine made of tin
Top ranking in a mohair suit
She was wearing a luxurious mohair suit, and was highly regarded or respected
Like a tattooed Elvis
She had a similar appearance or demeanor to Elvis Presley, including tattoos
In a Jaguar boot
She was wearing boots made by Jaguar, a luxury car brand
The happy hour is winding down
The time for discounted drinks or socializing offered by some bars is coming to an end
I want to hang but there's no one around
He wants to spend time with others, but there is no one nearby
I saw her dancing in the parking lot
He saw the woman dancing in the parking lot
Wearing Blackmail and she was smokin' pot
She was wearing Blackmail clothes and smoking marijuana while dancing
On the arm of Antonio
She was with a man named Antonio while dancing
Lookin' for love inside the rodeo
She was still seeking love at the rodeo event
Top ranking in a gas mask kiss
She was highly regarded or respected for her intimate encounters, perhaps involving a gas mask
Like a tattooed Elvis
She was similar to Elvis in her appearance, style, or mannerisms
In a French movie twist
She had a stylish and unexpected fashion sense, like something out of a French movie
Singing Street songs of love
She continued to sing about love and relationships, in a style popular among street performers or entertainers.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO, CHUCK PROPHET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind