Carlos Santana (born as Carlos Augusto Santana Alves on 20 July 1947 - Autl… Read Full Bio ↴Carlos Santana (born as Carlos Augusto Santana Alves on 20 July 1947 - Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, México) is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion. The band's sound featured his melodic, blues-based guitar lines set against Latin and African rhythms. Santana continued to work in these forms over the following decades. He experienced a resurgence of popularity and critical acclaim in the late 1990s. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine listed Santana at number 15 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He has won 10 Grammy Awards and 3 Latin Grammy Awards.

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.

Watch Your Step
Carlos Santana Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You better take it easy baby
Before you go away
You did me dirty
You'll get yours one day

You better
Watch your step
Talkin' about you

Watch your step
You better
Watch your step

Keep your eyes open wide
'Cause you'll be hurtin' down inside

You better leave me all your money
Before you go away
Don't think I'm funny honey
All I've got to say

You better
Watch your step
Talkin' about you
Watch your step
You better
Watch your step

'Cause when you took your love
from me
You left me full of misery
I'm gonna be all right

You better
Watch your step
Talkin' about you
Watch your step
You better
Watch your step

When you need me by your side
I'm gonna say go somewhere and hide
Watch your step
You better watch out baby
everything you do
I'm gonna keep my eyes focused
right on you
You better walk right baby
There's just one thing I know
You better watch your step

When you need me by your side
I'm gonna say go somewhere and hide

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Carlos Santana's song Watch Your Step have a clear message to someone who has wronged the singer in some way. The opening lines "You better take it easy baby / Before you go away" warn the other person to think twice before leaving, as they will get what's coming to them eventually for mistreating the singer. The chorus repeats the warning to "watch your step," emphasizing that the other person should be careful not to make any more mistakes that will lead to their downfall.

The second verse adds another layer to the warning, as the singer demands that the other person leave them all their money before leaving. This demand is likely a form of payback for something the other person did to harm the singer, but is also a practical measure to ensure that the singer is compensated for whatever they lost. The final lines of the song build on the warning, with the singer making it clear that they will be keeping an eye on the other person in the future and will not hesitate to call them out if they step out of line.

Overall, Watch Your Step is a message of warning to someone who has wronged the singer in some way. The lyrics are straightforward and direct, with no ambiguity about the consequences of continued bad behavior. By warning this person to "watch your step," the singer makes it clear that they will not tolerate any further harm, and that the other person is responsible for their own actions and their own fate.

Line by Line Meaning

You better take it easy baby Before you go away You did me dirty You'll get yours one day
Be cautious and think twice before you decide to leave, as you have treated me unfairly and you will eventually face the consequences.

Watch your step Talkin' about you Watch your step You better Watch your step
Be careful with your actions and choices, as they will have repercussions. Pay attention to what you are doing.

Keep your eyes open wide 'Cause you'll be hurtin' down inside
Stay alert and aware of what is happening, because the consequences of your actions will come back to hurt you emotionally and mentally.

You better leave me all your money Before you go away Don't think I'm funny honey All I've got to say
Before you leave, make sure you settle any financial obligations you may have towards me. Don't think I am being humorous, because I mean it.

When you took your love from me You left me full of misery I'm gonna be all right
When you abandoned me and our relationship, you caused me a lot of pain and suffering. However, I will eventually heal and move on with my life.

When you need me by your side I'm gonna say go somewhere and hide Watch your step You better watch out baby everything you do I'm gonna keep my eyes focused right on you You better walk right baby There's just one thing I know You better watch your step When you need me by your side I'm gonna say go somewhere and hide
If you ever try to come back into my life, I will not welcome you with open arms. I will always be watching you and making sure that you do not cause any more harm. You better be on your best behavior and not make the same mistakes again.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOBBY PARKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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