Lalo Schifrin (born Boris Claudio Schifrin on June 21, 1932) is an Argentin… Read Full Bio ↴Lalo Schifrin (born Boris Claudio Schifrin on June 21, 1932) is an Argentine pianist and composer, most famous for composing the "burning-fuse" theme tune from the Mission:Impossible television series.

Lalo Schifrin was born in Buenos Aires of Jewish heritage. His father, Luis Schifrin, led the second violin section of the orchestra at the Colón Theater for three decades.

At the age of six Schifrin began a six-year course of study on piano with Enrique Barenboim, the father of the pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim. At age 16, Schifrin began studying piano with the Russian expatriate Andreas Karalis, former head of the Kiev Conservatory, and harmony with Argentine composer Juan-Carlos Paz. During this time, Schifrin also became interested in jazz.

Although Schifrin studied sociology and law at the University of Buenos Aires, it was music that captured his attention. At age 20, he successfully applied for a scholarship to the Paris Conservatoire. While there, he attended Olivier Messiaen's classes and formally studied with Charles Koechlin, a disciple of Maurice Ravel. At night he played jazz in the Paris clubs. In 1955, Schifrin represented his country at the International Jazz Festival in Paris.

After returning home to Argentina, Schifrin formed a jazz orchestra, a 16-piece band that became part of a popular weekly variety show on Buenos Aires TV. Schifrin also began accepting other film, television and radio assignments. In 1956, Schifrin met Dizzy Gillespie and offered to write an extended work for Gillespie's big band. Schifrin completed the work, Gillespiana, in 1958. Later that year Schifrin began working as an arranger for Xavier Cugat's popular dance orchestra.

While in New York in 1960, Schifrin again met Gillespie, who had by this time disbanded his big band for financial reasons. Gillespie invited Schifrin to fill the vacant piano chair in his quintet. Schifrin immediately accepted and moved to New York City. In 1963, MGM, which had Schifrin under contract, offered the composer his first Hollywood film assignment with the African adventure, Rhino!. Schifrin moved to Hollywood late that year.

To date, he has written more than 100 scores for films, television and video games. Among the classic scores are Mission Impossible, Mannix, The Fox, Cool Hand Luke, Bullitt, Enter the Dragon, THX1138, Dirty Harry, The Cincinnati Kid, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Schifrin wrote music for the television series although the main theme was composed by Jerry Goldsmith) and The Amityville Horror. Recent film scores include Tango, Rush Hour, Rush Hour 2, Bringing Down The House, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, After the Sunset, and Abominable. He also wrote the songs for Splinter Cell.

In 1970, he composed the Paramount Television logo jingle "Color I.D." It was an 8-note jingle featuring horns, woodwinds and timpani. This music would have a long run in Paramount's TV production logos through 1987.

Schifrin's "Tar Sequence" from his Cool Hand Luke score was the longtime theme for the Eyewitness News broadcasts on New York station WABC-TV and other ABC affiliates, as well as National Nine News in Australia. CBS Television used part of the theme of his St. Ives soundtrack for its golf broadcasts in the 1970s and early 1980s.

To date, Lalo Schifrin has won four Grammy Awards (with twenty-one nominations), one Cable ACE Award, and received six Oscar nominations, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Black Widow
Lalo Schifrin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm gonna love ya
Until you hate me
And I'm gonna show ya
What's really crazy
You should've known better
Than to mess with me, honey
I'm gonna love ya, I'm gonna love ya
Gonna love ya, gonna love ya

Like a black widow, baby
This twisted cat and mouse game always starts the same
First we're both down to play then somehow you go astray
We went from nothing to something, liking to loving
It was us against the world and now we just fucking
It's like I loved you so much and now I just hate you
Feeling stupid for all the time that I gave you
I wanted all or nothing for us ain't no place in between
Might, might be me believing what you say that you never mean
Like it'll last forever but now forever ain't as long
If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be stuck singing this song
You were different from my last but now you got it mirrored
And as it all plays out I see it couldn't be clearer
Now sing
You used to be thirsty for me
But now you wanna be set free
This is the web, web that you weave
So baby now rest in peaceIt's all over with now
I'm gonna love ya
Until you hate me
Right
And I'm gonna show ya
Show 'em what show 'em what
What's really crazy
You should've known better
Than to mess with me, honeyit's all over with now
I'm gonna love ya, I'm gonna love ya
Gonna love ya, gonna love yaLike a black widow, baby
Black, black widow, baby
I'm gonna l-l-l-love you until it hurts
Just to get you I'm doing whatever works
You've never met nobody
That'll do you how I do yaThat will bring you to your knees
Praise Jesus hallelujah
I'm-a make you beg for it, plead for it
Till you feel like you breathe for it
Till you do any and everything for it
I want you to fiend for it
Wake up and dream for it
Till it's got you gasping for air
And you lean for it
Till they have a CAT scan and check on your mind
And it's nothing but me, on iton it, on it, on it
Now it's me-time believe that
If it's yours when you want it
I wouldn't promise I need that
Till I'm everywhere that you be at
I can't fall back go quick
Cause this here a fatal attraction so I take it all or I don't want shit
You used to be thirsty for me
Right
But now you wanna be set free
This is the web, web that you weave
So baby now rest in peace
It's all over with now
I'm gonna love yaUntil you hate me
Right
And I'm gonna show ya
Show 'em what show 'em what
What's really crazy
You should've known better
Than to mess with me, honey
I'm gonna love ya, I'm gonna love ya
Gonna love ya, gonna love ya

Like a black widow, baby
Black widow, baby

Overall Meaning

"Black Widow" by Lalo Schifrin is a song that tells a story of a love that turned into hatred. The lyrics are about a twisted cat and mouse game between two people who started caring for each other, but things went wrong somewhere along the way. The vocals imply that the singer is the dominant partner in the relationship and has been hurt and betrayed.

The opening lyrics, "I'm gonna love ya, until you hate me, and I'm gonna show ya what's really crazy" set the tone for the song. The person singing states that they will continue to love the other person until they hate them, and they will show the other person what's really crazy. This could mean that the person singing is going to go to extreme and possibly dangerous lengths to keep the relationship going.

The chorus is filled with dark imagery and comparisons to a black widow spider, known for killing its partner after mating. The lyrics evoke the image of a predatory woman who controls her partner and will bring him to his knees. The line, "You used to be thirsty for me, but now you want to be set free" implies that the relationship had become toxic, and the partner wants to end things.

Overall, "Black Widow" is a haunting song that touches on the themes of power, control, and betrayal in relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm gonna love ya
I will show you an intense and all-consuming love

Until you hate me
I will continue to love you until you turn on me with animosity

And I'm gonna show ya
I will reveal to you something that is truly insane

What's really crazy
I am going to scare you with something so bizarre

You should've known better
It was unwise for you to mess with me

Than to mess with me, honey
It was foolish for you to try and deceive me

I'm gonna love ya, I'm gonna love ya
I will never stop loving you, no matter what happens

Gonna love ya, gonna love ya
My love for you will continue unconditionally

Like a black widow, baby
My love will be deadly and all-encompassing, like a black widow spider

This twisted cat and mouse game always starts the same
These manipulative interactions always begin with a similar pattern

First we're both down to play then somehow you go astray
Initially, we are both willing to participate, but then you deviate from the plan

We went from nothing to something, liking to loving
Our relationship grew from a casual acquaintance to a deep, emotional bond

It was us against the world and now we just fucking
We used to have each other's backs, but now we are just using each other for sex

It's like I loved you so much and now I just hate you
My intense love has turned into passionate hatred for you

Feeling stupid for all the time that I gave you
I regret investing so much time and energy into you

I wanted all or nothing for us ain't no place in between
I had high expectations for our relationship and would not settle for anything less

Might, might be me believing what you say that you never mean
It's possible that I naively believed you when you said things you didn't actually mean

Like it'll last forever but now forever ain't as long
I thought our love would be eternal, but now it appears that it won't last

If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be stuck singing this song
Your actions have caused me to feel intense emotions, inspiring me to write this song

You were different from my last but now you got it mirrored
Initially, you stood out from my past partners, but now you act the same as them

And as it all plays out I see it couldn't be clearer
As our relationship progresses, it becomes increasingly clear to me that it will not work

You used to be thirsty for me
You were once highly interested in me

But now you wanna be set free
Now, you want to be released from our relationship

This is the web, web that you weave
You created a tangled mess with your deceitful behavior

So baby now rest in peace
Our relationship is over, so now you can find peace

I'm gonna l-l-l-love you until it hurts
I will continue to love you even if it causes me pain

Just to get you I'm doing whatever works
I will do anything to keep you interested in me

You've never met nobody
You have never encountered someone like me

That'll do you how I do ya
No one will treat you the way that I do

That will bring you to your knees
My actions will completely overpower you

Praise Jesus hallelujah
I am so good that it is almost religious

I'm-a make you beg for it, plead for it
I will make you desperately desire my love and affection

Till you feel like you breathe for it
My love will become your entire existence

Till you do any and everything for it
You will do whatever it takes to keep my love

I want you to fiend for it
I desire for you to crave my love like a drug addict

Wake up and dream for it
You will think about my love constantly, even in your dreams

Till it's got you gasping for air
My love will consume you so much that you will struggle to breathe

And you lean for it
You will depend on my love completely

Till they have a CAT scan and check on your mind
Your extreme behavior will be analyzed by doctors

And it's nothing but me, on iton it, on it, on it
My love will be the only thing on your mind

Now it's me-time believe that
It's time for me to focus on myself

If it's yours when you want it
If something is meant to be yours, you can have it whenever you desire

I wouldn't promise I need that
I won't make promises about something I don't desperately need

Till I'm everywhere that you be at
I will make sure that I am present in every aspect of your life

I can't fall back go quick
I cannot take my foot off the pedal or slow down

Cause this here a fatal attraction so I take it all or I don't want shit
Our relationship is all or nothing, and if it's not everything, I don't want it at all

Black, black widow, baby
I am a dangerous and cunning lover, like a black widow spider

Writer(s): Lalo Schifrin

Contributed by Muhammad V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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