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.
Veracruz
Carlos Santana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way down south, talkin’ ‘bout Mexico
Straight through the jungle, out to the sea
We’ll have some fun if you fly away with me
Like some old movie in black and white
We’ll fall in love in the middle of the night
Chorus:
Me and you, down in Veracruz
Do what you wanna do, down in Veracruz
Come on, baby, don’t you wanna come
In the town, people movin’ to the drums
Rosa’s Cantina, it never stops
Drinkin’ cerveza, people party ‘til they drop
Forget the laundry, forget the rain
We’ll get to heaven on the seven-thirty plane
Chorus 2x
The lyrics to Carlos Santana's song Veracruz describe a desire to escape to Mexico with a loved one and enjoy the carefree lifestyle of the locals. The song starts with an invitation to the listener to join the singer on this adventure, emphasizing the destination of Veracruz, a city in the Gulf of Mexico known for its vibrant nightlife, rich history, and lush beaches. The journey is described as going "straight through the jungle" to reach the sea, perhaps adding an element of danger and excitement to the trip. The idea of falling in love "in the middle of the night" evokes a sense of spontaneity and passion, fitting for a vacation romance.
The chorus emphasizes the freedom and possibilities of the trip, with the repeated refrain "Do what you wanna do" urging the listener to let go of responsibilities and worries and live in the moment. The second verse highlights Rosa's Cantina, a well-known bar in Veracruz where people gather to dance and drink, further emphasizing the carefree and joyful vibe of the trip. The desire to forget practical concerns such as laundry and rain and simply enjoy life is summed up in the line "We'll get to heaven on the seven-thirty plane."
Overall, the song Veracruz encourages listeners to embrace adventure and live life to the fullest, enjoying all that Mexico has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on, baby, don’t you wanna go
Encouraging the person to join and experience adventure
Way down south, talkin’ ‘bout Mexico
Specifically mentioning Mexico as the destination for the adventure
Straight through the jungle, out to the sea
Emphasizing the adventurous path to the destination
We’ll have some fun if you fly away with me
Promising a good time if the person joins on the adventure
Like some old movie in black and white
Comparing the adventure to a romantic movie in the past
We’ll fall in love in the middle of the night
Suggesting a romantic experience during the adventure
Me and you, down in Veracruz
Referring to the singer and the person he is addressing, and specifically mentioning Veracruz
Do what you wanna do, down in Veracruz
Encouraging the person to enjoy their time and do what they want while in Veracruz
In the town, people movin’ to the drums
Describing the lively atmosphere of Veracruz, with people dancing to the beat of drums
Rosa’s Cantina, it never stops
Mentioning a specific place in Veracruz that is always active and lively
Drinkin’ cerveza, people party ‘til they drop
Describing the drinking and partying culture in Veracruz
Forget the laundry, forget the rain
Encouraging the person to forget their everyday worries and enjoy the adventure
We’ll get to heaven on the seven-thirty plane
Expressing the excitement and anticipation for the adventure in Veracruz
Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Belhassen Lourimi
on Samba pa'ti
Thanks a lot..