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.
I Wish You Love
Joe Bataan Lyrics
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To give your heart a song to sing
And then a kiss, but more than this
I wish you love
And in July, a lemonade
To cool you in aome leafy glade
I wish you health
But more than wealth
I wish you love
My breaking heart & I agree
That you & I could never be
So with my best
My very best
I set you free
I wish you shelter from the storm
A cozy fire to keep you warm
But most of all when snowflakes fall
I wish love
So much love girl
Mm, i wanna wish you love girl
So much love
The lyrics to Joe Bataan's "I Wish You Love" are a mix of well wishes and heartbreak. The first two stanzas describe the singer's desire for the person they are addressing to have happiness and love in their life, expressed through springtime bluebirds, a cooling lemonade in July, good health, and love itself. The third stanza takes a different tone, as the singer acknowledges that he and the person he is addressing can never be together. He wishes her shelter from the storm and a cozy fire, but ultimately, he wishes her love. The repeated, emphatic "so much love" at the end echoes the opening sentiments of the song, but also carries a bittersweet weight as it is unclear whether the object of the singer's affection reciprocates his feelings.
Despite the upbeat tempo of the song and the hopeful nature of the opening and closing stanzas, "I Wish You Love" is ultimately a sad song about unrequited love. The fact that the singer and the object of his affection "could never be" suggests that there is some sort of obstacle preventing them from being together, although the song does not specify what this might be. The overall tone of the song is wistful and melancholic, as the singer is forced to let go of the person he loves and instead content himself with wishing her happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish you bluebirds in the spring
I hope that every spring, you experience something that brings happiness to your heart, just like how bluebirds' songs bring joy to people.
To give your heart a song to sing
May your heart always feel alive and motivated to do what you love, just like how songs make people feel inspired.
And then a kiss, but more than this
Getting a kiss from someone is great, but I hope you experience something beyond that, something more meaningful and fulfilling.
I wish you love
Above all else, I pray that you experience love in your life, which brings people happiness and a sense of purpose.
And in July, a lemonade
During hot summer days in July, I hope you find a refreshing moment for yourself, where you can savor a cold glass of lemonade.
To cool you in a leafy glade
May you find a peaceful and serene place, surrounded by nature's greenery, where you can relax and cool off during summer days.
I wish you health
Good health is one of the most important blessings anyone can have, so I pray that you always maintain a healthy body and mind.
But more than wealth
Although wealth has its own benefits, I believe that having good health is much more valuable and brings a deeper sense of satisfaction.
I wish you love
Again, I hope that throughout your life, you are blessed with love, which fills your heart with joy and contentment.
My breaking heart & I agree
Even though my heart is broken, I acknowledge that it is for the best that we cannot be together.
That you & I could never be
I understand that our relationship cannot work, and so I must let you go.
So with my best, my very best
I'm doing the best I can to let go of our relationship and wish you well in your future endeavors.
I set you free
I release you from any obligation to stay with me, and I hope you find happiness in your journey.
I wish you shelter from the storm
When life gets tough and unpredictable, I hope you find shelter where you can feel safe and secure.
A cozy fire to keep you warm
May you have a source of warmth and comfort when the weather gets chilly, like a warm fire in a fireplace or a cozy blanket.
But most of all when snowflakes fall
Above all else, when you see snowflakes falling, I pray that you remember this wish for love that I have for you.
I wish love
Once again, all I wish for you is love and that you experience its beauty and wonder.
So much love girl
I have so much love for you, and I wish you only the best in your life's journey.
Mm, I wanna wish you love girl
I truly want to wish you love, and I hope that your life is filled with it always, despite our own relationship not working out.
Contributed by Chloe P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.