Santana has was an avenue named after him as well as a statue of a guitar in the city where he was born (born in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, México) to honour him. The family moved from there to Tijuana In La Calonia Libertad, the city on Mexico's border with California, and then San Francisco, USA. Carlos stayed in Tijuana but joined his family in San Francisco later and graduated from James Lick Middle School and Mission High School there.
Most of his musical career has been spent with Santana, the band he formed in San Francisco in 1967. His music underwent large changes in 1973 when he was introduced to the spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy, by fellow guitarist "Mahavishnu" John McLaughlin. After this he adopted the title "Devadip" which he still uses. In 1998 he formed the Milagro Foundation along with his wife Deborah, which supports disadvantaged children. Later Carlos and Deborah divorced, but the Milagro Foundation is still alive and well.
Other huge influences of Carlos Santana are both Miles Davis (with whom he maintained a big personal connection), and John Coltrane, who unfortunately passed away in 1967.
Let the Children Play
Carlos Santana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let the children play
Let the children play
Let the children have their way
Let the children play
Let the children play
Que los niños le quieren jugar
Ellos tienen que jugar
Ellos tienen que jugar
Yo le digo caballero
Que los niños le quieren jugar
Ellos tienen que jugar
Ellos tienen que jugar
Let the children play
Ellos tienen que jugar
Ellos tienen que jugar
Let the children play
The lyrics of Carlos Santana's song Let the Children Play represent a message of freedom and unity for children. The song is more than just a call to allow children to have fun and play; it is a symbolic reminder of how the current generation can nurture the future leaders of tomorrow. The lines "Let the children have their way" and "Let the children play" encourage adults to give children the space and tools they need to develop their creativity, curiosity, and imagination. The repetition of these lines underscores the importance of this message and emphasizes the need to prioritize children's needs in society.
The second stanza, which is sung in Spanish, adds an even deeper layer of significance to the song. It urges adults to listen to the children's desires and to recognize the importance of play in their lives. The lines "Yo le digo caballero/Que los niños le quieren jugar" translate to "I tell you, sir, that the children want to play". The use of the word "caballero" suggests that the song is addressing those in authority and those who are in a position to make a difference for children's lives.
Overall, the song Let the Children Play is a powerful reminder of how crucial nurturing and supporting children's play is for their development. The lyrics encourage adults to give children the freedom to engage in play and express their creativity. It is a call to action for creating a brighter future where children are encouraged to explore their unique personalities and ambitions.
Line by Line Meaning
Let the children have their way
Allow the children to express themselves freely without any restrictions or inhibitions.
Let the children play
Encourage and support the children in engaging in playful activities that spark their creativity and imagination.
Yo le digo caballero
I tell you sir
Que los niños le quieren jugar
That the children want to play with you
Ellos tienen que jugar
They have to play
Let the children play
Emphasizing the importance of play for children's development and well-being.
Contributed by Blake Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Belhassen Lourimi
on Samba pa'ti
Thanks a lot..