Leonardo " Flaco" Jiménez began performing, at the age of seven, with his father, Santiago Jimenez, who was a pioneer of conjunto music and began recording at age fifteen as a member of Los Caporales. He played in the San Antonio area for several years, and then began working with Douglas Sahm in the 1960s. Sahm, better known as the founding member of the Sir Douglas Quintet, played with Jiménez for some time. Flaco then went on to New York City and worked with Dr. John, David Lindley, Peter Rowan, Ry Cooder and Bob Dylan. He appeared on Cooder's world music album Chicken Skin Music and on the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge. This led to greater awareness of his music outside America and, after touring Europe with Ry Cooder, he returned to tour in America with his own band, and on a joint bill with Peter Rowan. Jiménez, Peter Rowan and Wally Drogos were the original members of a band called The Free Mexican Airforce.
Jiménez won a Grammy Award in 1986 for Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio, one of his father's songs. He was also a member of the Tejano fusion group Texas Tornados, with Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender. The Texas Tornados won a Grammy Award in 1990, and Jiménez earned one on his own in 1996, when his self-titled album Flaco Jiménez won the Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Performance. In 1999, Flaco earned another Grammy Award for Best Tejano Performance for Said and Done (released by Barbed Wire Records), and one for Best Mexican-American Performance as a part of supergroup Los Super Seven. Jiménez has also won a Best Video award at the Tejano Music Awards and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard Latin Magazine for "Streets of Bakersfield" with Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens.
Jiménez appeared in the movie Picking Up the Pieces, with Woody Allen and Sharon Stone, and also featured on the soundtrack. His music has featured in the soundtrack for other movies such as Y Tu Mamá También, The Border, Tin Cup, and Striptease. The Hohner company collaborated with Jiménez to create the Flaco Jimenez Signature Series of accordions.
His brother, Santiago Jiménez, Jr., is also an accomplished accordionist who has recorded extensively.
Jiménez's latest CD, Ya Volvi De La Guerra, was issued in 2009 by Fiesta Records.
Don
FLACO JIMENEZ Lyrics
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Starin' out at the night
You've got so many troubles
On your nervous mind
But don't worry baby
It's gonna work out fine
You hear the sound of footsteps
You picked up the receiver
You didn't know what for
Then you saw the shadow
Steppin' through the door
Well don't worry baby
What the world may bring
Well don't worry baby
It won't change a thing
Life is a fly
And then you die
Standin' near by the window
Starin' out at the night
You see your lover leanin'
Against the old street light
But don't worry baby
It's gonna be alright
He was tossin' and turnin'
And he couldn't sleep
It ain't sure to bother
And it was just a dream
So where was he goin'
Headin' down the street
Well don't worry baby
What the world may bring
Well don't worry baby
It won't change a thing
Life is a fly
And then you die
Flaco Jimenez's song "Don" speaks about a person who stands by the window staring out at the night with so many troubles on their nervous mind. As they hear footsteps stealing across the floor, they pick up the receiver without knowing what to expect. Suddenly, they see the shadow of someone stepping through the door. However, the song urges the person not to worry about their troubles as they will work out fine. Essentially, the song speaks about the unpredictability of life and how it doesn't matter what happens in the world; it won't change the outcome of life.
As the song continues, the person sees their lover leaning against an old street lamp. The lover couldn't sleep and was tossing and turning, suggesting that the person's worries and troubles may not be the only ones in the relationship. At the end of the day, the song reiterates that life is short and will eventually end, so there is no point in worrying about anything as it won't change a thing.
Line by Line Meaning
Standin' there by the window
The singer is standing next to a window.
Starin' out at the night
The singer is looking outside into the darkness.
You've got so many troubles
The singer is burdened by numerous problems.
On your nervous mind
These problems are causing the artist to be anxious.
But don't worry baby
The artist is trying to reassure themselves.
It's gonna work out fine
The singer believes that their problems will eventually be resolved.
You hear the sound of footsteps
The singer hears someone walking.
Stealing 'cross the floor
The footsteps are very quiet.
You picked up the receiver
The artist answers the phone.
You didn't know what for
The artist is unsure why they picked up the phone.
Then you saw the shadow
The singer notices someone entering the room.
Steppin' through the door
The person who entered the room is now walking through the door.
What the world may bring
The singer is suggesting that external circumstances are beyond their control.
It won't change a thing
The singer believes that the outcome will remain the same, regardless of these circumstances.
Life is a fly
Life is fleeting and ephemeral.
And then you die
Death is an inevitable part of life.
You see your lover leanin'
The artist sees their romantic partner standing outside.
Against the old street light
The partner is leaning against a street light.
He was tossin' and turnin'
The singer's partner was having trouble sleeping.
And he couldn't sleep
The artist's partner was unable to rest.
It ain't sure to bother
The artist is indicating that this lack of sleep doesn't concern them too much.
And it was just a dream
The artist's partner had a bad dream.
So where was he goin'
The singer is wondering where their partner is headed.
It's gonna be alright
The artist is optimistic that everything will be okay in the end.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CESAR ROSAS, LOUIS FRAUSTO PEREZ, T-BONE BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind