Montoya's career began in the mid-70's when Albert Collins asked him to join his band as drummer. Collins took Montoya under his wing and taught him his "icy hot" guitar style. The two remained friends even after Montoya left Collins' band.
In the early 80's John Mayall heard Montoya playing guitar in a Los Angles bar. Soon after Mayall asked Montoya to join the newly reformed Bluesbreakers. He remained a member of the band for 10 years.
In the early 90's Montoya decided it was time to go out on his own. He has recorded several highly acclaimed blues CD's.thankfully, he did it in Santa Cruz
Put the Shoe On the Other Foot
Coco Montoya Lyrics
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You can walk just like me
Put the shoe on the other foot
You can walk just like me
Walkin' and a-talkin'
See and feel just like me
Put your hand in another glove
Put your hand in another glove
You can feel just like me
Walkin' and a-talkin'
See and feel just like me
Oh, put your shoes on, baby
Put your eyes on another view
You can see just like me
Put your eyes on another view
You can see just like me
Walkin' and a-talkin'
See and feel just like me
Put your tongue on another word
You can talk just like me
Put your tongue on another word
You can talk just like me
Walk, walkin' and a-talkin'
See and feel just like me
Put your shoes on
Just one more cuff on me, baby
The lyrics of Coco Montoya's "Put the Shoe On the Other Foot" urge the listener to step into someone else's shoes in order to understand their experiences. As the song progresses, Montoya encourages the listener to try on different parts of another person's life- walking like them, feeling like them, seeing like them, and even speaking like them. Throughout the song, there's a sense of empathy and compassion- Montoya implores the listener to broaden their horizons and try to understand the lives of others.
At the core of the song is the idea that it's difficult to really understand someone else's experiences until we actively try to do so. The metaphor of putting on someone else's shoes is a powerful one- it speaks to the idea that we need to physically step out of our own lives and try to see things from a different perspective. The song is underpinned by the idea that empathy is a key ingredient in building meaningful relationships with others.
Overall, "Put the Shoe On the Other Foot" is a call to action- it's urging the listener to try to be more understanding and compassionate towards others. It's a powerful message, and one that's as relevant today as it was when the song was first released.
Line by Line Meaning
Put the shoe on the other foot
Try to imagine yourself in my position
You can walk just like me
You can understand how it feels to be in my shoes
Walkin' and a-talkin'
Experiencing and expressing my thoughts and feelings
See and feel just like me
Gain insight into my perspective and emotions
Put your hand in another glove
Try out something different than what you are used to
You can feel just like me
You can empathize with me
Put your eyes on another view
Look at things from a different angle
You can see just like me
You can gain the same understanding as me
Put your tongue on another word
Try to express yourself differently
You can talk just like me
You can communicate with the same understanding as me
Just one more cuff on me, baby
Just one more chance to prove my point
Contributed by London L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.