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
A Man Can Cry
Freddy Fender Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A love can surely die
They're not fear to stay
The sunshine and the rain
But let me, oh let me, tell you baby
I'm still in love with you
Blue skies above
Is the rule my love, all this love have I
But let me, oh oh let me, tell you baby
I'm still in love with you
The rules of a game, we both know
I know that you love me, love me so
But someday little darling, I know you don't no want me
I know you, know you want me, want me so
A man can cry
A love can surely die
They're not fear to stay
The sunshine and the rain
But let me, oh let me, tell you baby
I'm still in love with you
Freddy Fender's song A Man Can Cry is a romantic ballad that deals with the themes of love, separation, and heartbreak. The opening lines "A man, can, cry/A love can surely die/They're not fear to stay/The sunshine and the rain" suggest that no matter how strong a person may seem, they can still experience heartbreak and cry. The second verse talks about the beauty of nature and how the singer's love feels as vast and towering as a mountain. The chorus repeats that the singer is still in love with his partner despite the difficulties of life and the ups and downs of their relationship.
The bridge of the song changes the perspective from the singer to his partner. The lines "The rules of a game, we both know/I know that you love me, love me so/But someday little darling, I know you don't no want me/I know you, know you want me, want me so" suggest that both partners are aware of the game they are playing regarding their relationship. The singer acknowledges that his partner may not want him someday, but he still loves her and wants to convey that message.
The song's lyrics reveal that love can be intense and passionate, but it can also be fragile and prone to fading away. The track's slow pace and gentle melody convey the vulnerability and melancholy of the lyrics. Overall, A Man Can Cry is a poignant ballad that showcases Freddy Fender's vocal and emotional range as a performer.
Line by Line Meaning
A man, can, cry
Men are allowed to show emotion and cry just like anyone else
A love can surely die
Even strong love can come to an end and not last forever
They're not fear to stay
Relationships can be unpredictable and not guaranteed to last
The sunshine and the rain
Relationships can have both good times and bad times
But let me, oh let me, tell you baby
The singer wants to express their feelings to their loved one
I'm still in love with you
Despite everything, the singer's love for their partner still exists
Blue skies above
The world can be beautiful and full of hope
The towering mountain high
There are challenges and obstacles to be faced in life and relationships
Is the rule my love, all this love have I
The singer's love is unwavering and strong
The rules of a game, we both know
The singer and their partner understand the dynamics of their relationship
I know that you love me, love me so
The singer is aware of their partner's love for them
But someday little darling, I know you don't no want me
The singer fears their partner will no longer want to be with them someday
I know you, know you want me, want me so
Despite the fear, the singer still believes their partner loves them
A man can cry
Men are allowed to show emotion and cry just like anyone else
A love can surely die
Even strong love can come to an end and not last forever
They're not fear to stay
Relationships can be unpredictable and not guaranteed to last
The sunshine and the rain
Relationships can have both good times and bad times
But let me, oh let me, tell you baby
The singer wants to express their feelings to their loved one
I'm still in love with you
Despite everything, the singer's love for their partner still exists
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J. DUNCAN, BALDEMAR HUERTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind