The song Crosses, from Crosses EP and the later Veneer, appeared on the finale of the second season of the popular American television comedy-drama The O.C.. His cover of Heartbeats (also from Veneer) was used in a popular Sony BRAVIA TV commercial featuring coloured bouncing balls in San Francisco and an episode of Zach Braff's Scrubs
His song Far Away was also prominently featured in the Rockstar video game Red Dead Redemption.
His trademark sound is solo acoustic guitar with soft melody. His work, although mostly original, does include acoustic covers of great hits such as Love Will Tear Us Apart, Born in the U.S.A., and Teardrop.
González also appears in the Zero 7 album The Garden, in which he sings on three tracks and on a re-worked version of Crosses.
El Invento
José González Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lo extraño de simplemente ser
Un alma curiosa singular
Compleja en su calma y tempestad
Dime por qué será
Dime por dónde vas
Dime
Y en el amanecer
Cuando todo va cambiando de color
Y vemos aparecer
Un mundo lleno de belleza y de dolor
Dime por qué será
Dime por dónde vas
Dime de dónde somos
Dime
Y dime por qué será
Dime en dónde estamos
Y dime por qué
Y por pertenecer
A la gente del libro
Pretendiendo entender
Los enigmas del universo
Dime por qué será
Dime por dónde vas
Dime de dónde somos
Dime, dime
Y dime por qué será
Dime en dónde estamos
Y dime por qué
The lyrics of José González's song "El Invento" highlight the introspective nature of human existence and the search for meaning in life. The opening lines, "Y por agradecer / Lo extraño de simplemente ser," speak to the gratitude we feel for the strange and beautiful experience of simply existing. It emphasizes the idea that being alive is a unique and complex journey filled with both calmness and storms.
As the song progresses, González poses a series of questions, seeking to understand the mysteries of life. He asks, "Dime por qué será / Dime por dónde vas," questioning the reasons and destinations of our individual paths. The repetition of "Dime," meaning "Tell me" in Spanish, suggests a desire for wisdom and enlightenment.
In the second verse, González reflects on the transformative power of the dawn, when the world changes color and reveals its beauty and pain. This imagery symbolizes the ever-changing nature of existence and the paradoxical nature of life's experiences.
The final verse brings attention to the desire to belong and understand. González mentions "la gente del libro," referring to those who seek knowledge and attempt to unravel the mysteries of the universe. It highlights the human longing to comprehend the enigmas that surround us.
Line by Line Meaning
Y por agradecer
And in gratitude
Lo extraño de simplemente ser
The strangeness of simply being
Un alma curiosa singular
A curious and unique soul
Compleja en su calma y tempestad
Complex in its calmness and storm
Dime por qué será
Tell me why it will be
Dime por dónde vas
Tell me where you are going
Dime
Tell me
Y en el amanecer
And at dawn
Cuando todo va cambiando de color
When everything is changing colors
Y vemos aparecer
And we see appearing
Un mundo lleno de belleza y de dolor
A world full of beauty and pain
Dime por qué será
Tell me why it will be
Dime por dónde vas
Tell me where you are going
Dime de dónde somos
Tell me where we are from
Dime
Tell me
Y dime por qué será
And tell me why it will be
Dime en dónde estamos
Tell me where we are
Y dime por qué
And tell me why
Y por pertenecer
And to belong
A la gente del libro
To the people of the book
Pretendiendo entender
Pretending to understand
Los enigmas del universo
The enigmas of the universe
Dime por qué será
Tell me why it will be
Dime por dónde vas
Tell me where you are going
Dime de dónde somos
Tell me where we are from
Dime, dime
Tell me, tell me
Y dime por qué será
And tell me why it will be
Dime en dónde estamos
Tell me where we are
Y dime por qué
And tell me why
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jose Gonzalez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
José González
New album “Local Valley”, out Sept. 17. ► Stream / Pre-order album: http://josegonzalez.lnk.to/localvalley
Lucía Gómez Amado
Para cantarla mientras que salimos a tomar aire, en estos tiempos distintos.
Mac arius
Beautiful, deep lyrics. I hear your questions. For they have swirled around my head too for many decades. Peace and resolution can be found only in watching the I-thought, which unlocks the Peace of being as we watch consciousness play out. Read Ramana Maharshi's "who am I?" Peace be with you Jose. Thanks for all the beautiful music.
Liliana Pezoa-Farina
La lanzas el día de cumpleaños de mi única hija.. no podía ser mejor regalo del día en que con mi esposo nos convertimos en padre y madre, hace 17 años atrás. Gracias José.
guitardream
Hello everyone, these specific songs have touched my heart, besides making me happy, they have inspired me to make my own music and also a couple of covers I hope one day to be known to continue showing what I know I can give, thanks for your music, greetings to all
Elbluza
Hermosa canción, José! Saludos desde Argentina!
Pawel Tulik
When I was discovering your music 13 years ago, I just met a wonderful girl. The world was a magical place back then. Now we are a family, got two fantastic children, and it feels like I have just received a brand new soundtrack for my life from you. You have no idea how many people you did help through your wonderful music. Thank you Jose!
Styles Dangerfield
I love reading stories like this.
GOVIND
@Styles Dangerfield Yes, I think we all do :)
SocietyKilledTheUnicorn
13 years ago I met this girl named Jill. She gave me many Handys.