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.
Velvet Guitar
Alejandro Escovedo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but i still gotta strum
My Velvet guitar
and i don't care how long
Might write a sad one
but who's gonna sing them this time.
My hands are turning numb
My Velvet guitar
and i don't care how long
exactly what went wrong
but who's gonna blame him
this time -----
A rooster's in the trees
but he can't crow for me
He's wasted his time
He lost track of how long
exactly what went wrong
but who's gonna blame him
this time?
I hear her sing for me
but she won't cry for me
I'm wasted, inside -----
She's too cool to come down
and dance to a sad one
but who's gonna blame her this
time ----------.
Not gonna break him down.
The song "Velvet Guitar" by Alejandro Escovedo is a melancholic storytelling about a musician's struggle and how the power of music helps him cope with personal and emotional turmoil. The lyrics depict the hardship that comes with being a musician, where frustration and isolation are often part of the creative process. Despite the pain in his hands, the singer continues to play his Velvet guitar, pouring his soul into the notes, regardless of how long it takes, and whoever is left to listen to the sad songs he writes.
The song has a sense of resignation as the musician understands that the rooster in the trees won't crow for him, and he is hardly expecting anyone to cry for him. His music is his solace, and he recognizes that the audience he once had might be drifting away. The reference to the Velvet guitar conjures an image of softness and warmth, resonating with the desire for comfort and familiarity. The song's tone elevates towards the end, with an acknowledgment that he won't break down, and the music will continue to be his salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
My hands are turning numb
Despite the physical pain, I have an urge to continue playing my guitar.
but i still gotta strum
I have to keep playing the guitar, despite the discomfort.
My Velvet guitar
Referring to the guitar in his possession, which he values highly.
and i don't care how long
I will play my guitar for as long as I want, irrespective of time constraints.
Might write a sad one
I might create a piece of music that is melancholic in nature.
but who's gonna sing them this time.
There may not be anyone to perform the song I create.
A rooster's in the trees
Metaphorical imagery of a rooster in a tree, which represents wasted potential.
but he can't crow for me
The wasted potential in question isn't of any use to the artist.
He's wasted his time
The creature in question has failed to make the most of the time it has had.
I hear her sing for me
Someone sings to the artist and catches his attention.
but she won't cry for me
While someone has caught his attention, this person won't sympathize with the singer.
I'm wasted, inside
The artist is feeling internal pain and discontent.
She's too cool to come down
The person being referred to is too apathetic to engage with the singer.
and dance to a sad one
Even if he played something melancholic, she wouldn't want to interact with it.
Not gonna break him down.
The singer will persist and won't let anything stop him from playing his guitar and producing great music.
Contributed by Sophie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.