In 1959, Fender recorded the blues ballad "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights." The song became popular in 1959, but he was beset by legal troubles after he and a band member were arrested for possession of marijuana. After a two years in Louisiana's Angola prison farm, he was released through the intercession of Gov. Jimmie Davis, also a songwriter and musician. Davis requested that Fender stay away from music while on probation as a condition of his release. By the end of the 1960s, Fender was back in Texas working as a mechanic, and attending a local junior college, while only playing music on the weekends.
Number One Pop and Country
In 1974, Fender recorded "Before The Next Teardrop Falls." The single was selected for national distribution, and became a number one hit on the Billboard Country and Pop charts. His next four singles, including a remake of "Wasted Days", all hit the number one spot on the Billboard Country charts. During the next few years, Fender had several major country hits, including the No. 1 hits "Secret Love" (1975) and "You'll Lose a Good Thing" (1976).
Texas Tornados
In the 1990s, Fender teamed up with fellow Tex-Mex musicians Doug Sahm, Flaco Jimenez and Augie Myers to form the Tex-Mex supergroup the Texas Tornados, whose work was widely acclaimed. Following the death of Sahm, the production of the Tornadoes slowed.
Los Super Seven
Freddy Fender continued to still be on top with a groundbreaking collaboration with several musical legends to produce another supergroup, Los Super Seven which consisted of David Hidalgo (vocals, guitar, drums, bass, percussion, requinto, hidalguera); Rick Trevino, Joe Ely (vocals, guitar); Flaco Jimenez (vocals, accordion); Cesar Rosas (vocals, six-string bass, guitar, guitarron, jarana); Freddy Fender (vocals, acoustic bass); Ruben Ramos (vocals). This Super Seven effort won a Grammy in 1999.
On February 4, 1999, Freddy's star was installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2004, the Texas Folklife Resources produced a widely acclaimed sell-out show at the Paramount in Austin, Texas " Fifty Years of Freddy Fender", where Freddy was honored and then performed to a packed house. Also in 2004, Freddy's hometown of San Benito Texas honored Freddy with his likeness emblazoned on their new watertower with "Hometown of Freddy Fender". Freddy would later say that this honor meant more to him than any other accolade he had ever won.
Freddy Fender's Masterpiece...
La Musica De Baldemar Huerta
Freddy delves deeply into the music of his forefathers: the boleros and rancheras that would have played in the ghettos of his native San Benito, Texas, and that he sang as a youth in border-town cantinas. Especially gorgeous are "Adios Muchachos," a melancholy meditation on final farewells, and the delicate opener, "Rayito de Luna." El Be Bop Kid isn't just back; he sounds reborn. Freddy won his last Grammy for this album.
Freddy Fender underwent a kidney transplant in 2002 donated by his daughter and a transplant of the liver in 2004. Nonetheless, his condition continued to worsen. He was suffering from an "incurable cancer" in which he had tumors on his lungs. On December 31, 2005, Fender performed his last concert and resumed chemotherapy.
Fender has Passed on...
Rest in Peace, Vaya Con Dios
Freddy Fender passed away on Saturday, October 14, 2006, after a long battle with lung cancer. He is buried in his Hometown of San Benito, Texas.
Plans are underway for a Freddy Fender Museum to be located in his beloved hometown, San Benito, Texas. Check back at: www.freddyfendermuseum.org or
www.freddyfender.com
It
FREDDY FENDER Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But It's All In The Game
All in the wonderful game
That we know as love
You have words with him
And your future's looking dim
But these things your hearts can rise above
Once in a while he won't call
Soon he'll be there at your side
With a sweet refrain
And he'll kiss your lips
And caress your waking fingertips
And your hearts will fly away
And he'll kiss your lips
And caress your waking fingertips
And your hearts will fly away
And your hearts will fly away
And your hearts will fly…
And your hearts will fly…
The lyrics of "It's All in the Game" by Freddy Fender speak about the ups and downs of love. The song describes that it is normal to shed tears and to face difficult times in relationships, but that it is all a part of the wonderful game that we call love. The song encourages listeners to rise above the struggles and to have hope, as love always finds its way back.
The lyrics notably touch upon the idea that communication is key in relationships, "You have words with him, and your future's looking dim, but these things your hearts can rise above." Even though a fight might occur, the song encourages us to not give up and to know that love will guide us back to each other. The last verse expresses that the couple will kiss and caress each other's fingertips and their hearts will fly away, with love leading them to happier days.
Overall, the song's lyrics exemplify the idea that love is not always easy but is a game that is worth playing, and with patience, hope, and communication, love can endure through any hardships.
Line by Line Meaning
Many a tear has to fall
Experiencing sadness is a common occurrence when it comes to love
But It's All In The Game
However, this pain is just a part of the love game
All in the wonderful game
This game of love can be amazing despite the hardships that come with it
That we know as love
This game is what we associate with the feeling of love
You have words with him
Sometimes, arguments happen in a relationship
And your future's looking dim
These conflicts can make it seem like the future of the relationship is uncertain
But these things your hearts can rise above
However, love can conquer these arguments and bring the couple closer together
Once in a while he won't call
Occasionally, one person in the relationship may not reach out to the other
But It's All In The Game
Again, this is all just part of the game of love
Soon he'll be there at your side
But eventually, the other person will come back and be by your side once again
With a sweet refrain
They may apologize and say sweet things to make up for lost time
And he'll kiss your lips
Physical intimacy is a part of the passion in romantic relationships
And caress your waking fingertips
The person can lightly touch and stroke the other's body in a loving way
And your hearts will fly away
In that moment, the love and connection between the couple will be strong
And he'll kiss your lips
Repeating that this physical intimacy is a key component of love
And caress your waking fingertips
Repeating that loving touch is a part of the passion in relationships
And your hearts will fly away
Repeating that the love and connection will be strong in that moment
And your hearts will fly away
Repeating that the love and connection will be strong in that moment
And your hearts will fly…
Ending the song by repeating the theme that love can make us feel light and free
And your hearts will fly…
Repeating the previous line to emphasize this theme
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARLO KARGES, LISA DALBELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind