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.
Tender Heart
Alejandro Escovedo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can be with me and I can be with you
A god above, another one below
You better run baby now you'll never know
I got a dream do you want to be in my dream?
I got a dream do you want to be in my dream?
I got a tender heart do you want my tender heart?
I got nothin' you need and everything you want
I'll clean your nose
Roll over once why don't you
Shake out those pretty clothes
I got a tender heart
Do you want my tender heart?
I got a tender heart
Do you want my tender heart?
First time I saw you I thought
I must have dreamed you up
You laughed in my face and
Threw down in a paper cup
The ice is melting, it's melting in the sink
It's only four, why don't you
Make us one more drink?
I got a dream do you want to be in my dream?
I got a dream do you want to be in my dream?
Do you want to be in my dream?
Do you want to be in my dream?
Do you want to be in my dream?
Do you want to be in my dream?
The lyrics of Alejandro Escovedo's song "Tender Heart" appear to be about a person who has a dream and wants someone to be a part of it. The singer is asking someone if they want to be with him, and he promises to give them everything they want. He has a tender heart, and he wants to share it with someone. The song's tone is hopeful and inviting, the singer's dreams are enticing and alluring. However, the second stanza reveals that the singer was rejected when he first saw this person. Despite this, he continues to pursue this person and tries to make them comfortable by cleaning their nose, making them drinks, and shaking out their pretty clothes.
The song can be interpreted in a few different ways, but one possible interpretation is that it's about the desire for love and companionship. The dream the singer has could represent a future together, and he's trying to convince the other person to join him. His willingness to do things for them, like cleaning their nose, suggests that he's willing to sacrifice for the sake of the relationship. The rejection in the second stanza is a setback, but he soldiers on, hoping that the other person will eventually come around.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a dream do you want to in it too?
I have a dream, would you like to be a part of it?
You can be with me and I can be with you
We can be together if you want.
A god above, another one below
There are higher and lower powers above us.
You better run baby now you'll never know
You should leave now, or you'll regret it later.
I got a dream do you want to be in my dream?
I have a dream, would you like to be a part of it?
I got a tender heart do you want my tender heart?
I am kind-hearted, would you like me for who I am?
I got nothin' you need and everything you want
I may not have what you need, but I have everything you want.
You make your bed honey
You make decisions and their consequences.
I'll clean your nose
I'll help you recover from your consequences.
Roll over once why don't you
Do something new and different for yourself.
Shake out those pretty clothes
Express yourself and show your beauty.
First time I saw you I thought
I was amazed the first time I saw you.
I must have dreamed you up
I thought you were unreal, like a dream.
You laughed in my face and
You mocked me for believing in you.
Threw down in a paper cup
You treated me unfairly and threw away my trust.
The ice is melting, it's melting in the sink
Time is passing, and you're running out of chances.
It's only four, why don't you
It's still early, why not have some fun?
Make us one more drink?
Let's enjoy ourselves a bit more.
Do you want to be in my dream?
Are you interested in joining me in my vision?
Do you want to be in my dream?
Are you interested in joining me in my vision?
Do you want to be in my dream?
Are you interested in joining me in my vision?
Do you want to be in my dream?
Are you interested in joining me in my vision?
Do you want to be in my dream?
Are you interested in joining me in my vision?
Do you want to be in my dream?
Are you interested in joining me in my vision?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ALEJANDRO ESCOVEDO, CHUCK PROPHET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind