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.
All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down
Flaco Jimenez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ever since you first walked out the door
Then I just started drinkin' to forget
But I don't think the worst has happened yet
All you ever do is bring me down
Making me a fool all over town
They all wonder why I wear a frown
It's funny how my whole world fell apart
I think I saw it coming from the start
I tried to tell myself that you'd be true
But I expected way too much of you
The song "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down" by Flaco Jimenez is a soulful ballad that speaks of heartbreak and the pain of a love gone wrong. The lyrics are a sad tale of a man who is unable to sleep after his lover has left him. As he wallows in his grief, he resorts to drinking to numb the pain, but it seems that the worst is yet to come.
The chorus of the song sums up the feelings of the singer, with the lines "All you ever do is bring me down, making me a fool all over town, they all wonder why I wear a frown, that's 'cause honey all you do is bring me down". The chorus suggests that his lover has not only broken his heart but also made him a laughing stock in their small town. He's unable to hold his head up high as everyone around him knows of his pain and misery.
The verses of the song speak of the singer's struggles to come to terms with his loss. He knew that his world was falling apart but hoped against hope that his lover would stay true to him. Sadly, he says, he expected too much from her, and now he is left with nothing but heartache and pain. The lyrics are beautifully crafted, and the plaintive melody of the song only adds to its emotional appeal.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't sleep a wink anymore
I have trouble sleeping since you left me.
Ever since you first walked out the door
My sleep troubles started when you walked away.
Then I just started drinkin' to forget
I resorted to alcohol to erase memories of you.
But I don't think the worst has happened yet
Things could get worse for me.
All you ever do is bring me down
You continually disappoint me and make me feel bad.
Making me a fool all over town
You embarrass me in public and make me look foolish.
They all wonder why I wear a frown
People notice my sadness and are curious about it.
That's ?cause honey all you do is bring me down
I wear a frown because of your continual disappointing behavior.
It's funny how my whole world fell apart
My life got destroyed when you left.
I think I saw it coming from the start
I had a feeling that our relationship was heading for doom.
I tried to tell myself that you'd be true
I convinced myself that you would not betray me.
But I expected way too much of you
My expectations of you were too high.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: RAUL MALO, AL ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidg.9932
A very Happy 84th Birthday to Flaco Jimenez. Leonardo Jiménez March 11, 1939 San Antonio, Texas.
Founding member of Sir Douglas Quintet and the Texas Tornados. Winner of multiple Grammy's and other awards.
A legend in Tejano music. Many, many more Flaco...
@June_Toni
Flaco is getting a bronze statue in San Antonio Market Square ❤
@jwa718
Someone once said this is THE BEST under-rated and appreciated bands ever----have to agree 100%. Raul's voice is simply amazing!!
@stangetz534
this is incredible. flaco shows its not the mode you are in that counts- its the mood.
@mac26x98
I like this group especially with Flaco playing the Accordion he is great
@bc78260
That's the "San Antonio,Texas" sound. And Flaco Jimenez and the Mavs are our boys.
@kitrussell4878
So talented,love Flaco he sure can make that box sing,also love his fun side whenever it gets the better of him 😂☘
@sonjalewis3047
Yup, Flaco is grinning top-to-bottom. And who knew the accordion could squeal like that?
@badass.bob1
The Mavericks are great, God bless Flaco. A true legend
@joyelmcafee9805
I LOVED these guys back in the 90's and had a major crush on Raul. 😁 I could listen to The Mavericks all day and never get sick of hearing him sing. Look up his cover of "Crying" by Roy Orbison. Chills.