Cycles of You
Joe Bataan Lyrics
In the morning, as I make my way down the sidewalk
I pass your doorstep on my way to a world with no pain
Do I see you as you smile at me through your window
In shades of blue, I turn away 'cause it's all in my mind
It's a world that I created
On the day that you moved on
All my suffering has been traded
For the lie that you're not gone
Things are always what they seem
Just a dream
Just a dream
Why not tell me
As you act if I should see you
Am I losing?
Or do I even have something to lose?
But you know me, I am someone who doesn't like changing
And I'm sorry, I don't think I could change anyway
People ask me what I'm doing
And I know it's not sincere
Watching my life turn to ruin
Just pretending you're still here
Am I slowly going blind?
My eyes are open, I can't see
I can't see
I can't see
In the evening, as I'm gazing at all of the rooftops
I start walking across all of them to get to you
And it haunts me, 'cause I know that you're out there somewhere
I call your name, but it doesn't make a difference now
In my hand I held a diamond
And I tossed up and down
Didn't pay it much attention
Till' it fell right through the ground
Who did I think I was fooling
It was merely only me
Only me
Only me
Writer(s): O'malley Luke Riverside
Contributed by Jonathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
No recording artist has more impeccable street credentials than Joe Bataan, the originator of the New York Latin Soul style that paralleled Latin boogaloo and anticipated disco. His musical experience began with street corner doo-wop in the 1950s, and came to include one of the first rap records to hit the charts, 1979's "Rap-O, Clap-O". In between these milestones, he recorded classic albums like St. Latin's Day Massacre, a perennial favorite in the salsa market Read Full BioNo recording artist has more impeccable street credentials than Joe Bataan, the originator of the New York Latin Soul style that paralleled Latin boogaloo and anticipated disco. His musical experience began with street corner doo-wop in the 1950s, and came to include one of the first rap records to hit the charts, 1979's "Rap-O, Clap-O". In between these milestones, he recorded classic albums like St. Latin's Day Massacre, a perennial favorite in the salsa market, Salsoul, which gave the record label its name and helped spark the national explosion of urban dance music, and Afrofilipino, which included one of the very earliest New York disco hits, an instrumental version of Gil Scott Heron's "The Bottle".
Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
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Greeneflower
Lyrics (as far as I know, there are no known translations online that I can find):
In the morning, as I make my way down the sidewalk
I pass your doorstep on my way to a world with no pain
Do I see you as you smile at me through your window
In shades of blue, I turn away ‘cause it’s all in my mind
It’s a world that I created
On the day that you moved on
All my suffering has been traded
For the lie that you're not gone
Things are always what they seem
But my whole world, just a dream
Just a dream (x2)
Why not tell me
As you act if I should see you
Am I losing?
Or do I even have something to lose?
But you know me, I am someone who doesn't like changing
And I’m sorry, I don’t think I could change anyway
People ask me what I’m doing
And I know it’s not sincere
Watching my life turn to ruin
Just pretending you're still here
Am I slowly going blind?
My eyes are open, I can’t see
I can’t see (x2)
In the evening, as I’m gazing at all of the rooftops
I start walking across all of them to get to you
And it haunts me, ‘cause I know that you're out there somewhere
I call your name, but it doesn’t make a difference now
In my hand I held a diamond
And I tossed up and down
Didn’t pay it much attention
Till’ it fell right through the ground
Who did I think I was fooling
It was merely only me
Only me (x2)
Greeneflower
Lyrics (as far as I know, there are no known translations online that I can find):
In the morning, as I make my way down the sidewalk
I pass your doorstep on my way to a world with no pain
Do I see you as you smile at me through your window
In shades of blue, I turn away ‘cause it’s all in my mind
It’s a world that I created
On the day that you moved on
All my suffering has been traded
For the lie that you're not gone
Things are always what they seem
But my whole world, just a dream
Just a dream (x2)
Why not tell me
As you act if I should see you
Am I losing?
Or do I even have something to lose?
But you know me, I am someone who doesn't like changing
And I’m sorry, I don’t think I could change anyway
People ask me what I’m doing
And I know it’s not sincere
Watching my life turn to ruin
Just pretending you're still here
Am I slowly going blind?
My eyes are open, I can’t see
I can’t see (x2)
In the evening, as I’m gazing at all of the rooftops
I start walking across all of them to get to you
And it haunts me, ‘cause I know that you're out there somewhere
I call your name, but it doesn’t make a difference now
In my hand I held a diamond
And I tossed up and down
Didn’t pay it much attention
Till’ it fell right through the ground
Who did I think I was fooling
It was merely only me
Only me (x2)
Jacqueline W
What a wonderful song. I've only just heard this one by chance today & have played continuously. This is no Ordinary Guy... Brilliant!
Nick Duffy
Can't go a day without playing this. Utterly outstanding.
DJ_Souldiegirl
Thank you so much for sharing this with me SB...I totally agree with your excellent analysis of this tune..will miss you terribly..but, I wish you and yours a Happy and blessed holiday season and will look forward to your return in January. ♥
drgonzalez
One of his finest tunes for sure and I know manu from him. Long love Subway Bataan
rlenes5150/Soulera5150
I adore Joe Bataan....thanks for this one...*****
Jacqueline W
Brilliant song. This is no Ordinary Joe!
Nathalie Colin
Joe Bataan 🎼🎼❤ NYork , une belle surprise, j ' ADORE !!! Merci pour ce partage Soulbiscuits 😉
SOULBISCUITS
Nathalie Colin Top top tune 🙏🏻
Ozlem Ak
great song,great bataaan!