Born in Tallahassee, Florida, Lavoie was raised by his mother in Winter Haven, Florida with his six siblings. He began his musical career in 1961 as a member of a local band, The Rumours. The band included Gram Parsons and Jim Stafford, as well as drummer Jon Corneal, who later joined Parsons' International Submarine Band.
In 1964, while attending the University of South Florida, Lavoie joined a band called the Sugar Beats and met producer Phil Gernhard. He recorded a regional hit for the band, a cover of Johnny Rivers' song, "What Am I Doing Here".
During the 1960s, Lavoie performed with many other bands, including US Male, The Uglies, and Me and the Other Guys. It was in the latter band that he met musician Billy Aerts, who became a member of Lobo's touring band in the early 1970s and produced Lobo's comeback album in 1989.
Again working with Gernhard, his first solo record was released in 1969, the single "Happy Days In New York City" backed with "My Friend Is Here". Both were original tracks. It was released on Laurie Records.
By 1971, Lavoie had started calling himself Lobo (Spanish for wolf). Gernhard was an executive for Big Tree Records, and the company released his first single, "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo". The first major hit for the label, it reached number 5 in the US and launched a successful series of singles. The song also reached number 4 in the UK.
His debut album, Introducing Lobo, followed that May. In June his second single, "She Didn't Do Magic", was released. In September, "California Kid And Reemo" was released. Another single was The Albatross. It was around this time that Big Tree Records was merged with Bell Records. In the confusion, Lobo's second album Close Up was lost and never released.
Maintaining the Lobo alias, he released Of a Simple Man in 1972, which yielded back-to-back Top 10 hits, including "Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend", which reached #8 in the US charts, and "I'd Love You to Want Me". "I'd Love You To Want Me" was Lobo's biggest hit, climbing to #2 on the Billboard charts in 1972, and later reached #1 in Germany and in mid-1974, #5 in the United Kingdom.
With the release of Calumet in 1973, Lobo had three more Top 40 hits: "It Sure Took a Long, Long Time," "How Can I Tell Her" and "Standing at the End of the Line." He made an appearance on American Bandstand that year and also released a fourth single from Calumet, "There Ain't No Way." A fifth, "Standing At The End Of The Line" was released in 1975.
In June 1974 Lobo's fourth album Just A Singer. It was the first album by Lobo to contain tracks not written by Lobo. The only single from the album was "Rings".
His last Top 30 single for Big Tree, "Don't Tell Me Goodnight", was released in 1975. Lobo also released the album, A Cowboy Afraid Of Horses and his last single for Big Tree, "Would I Still Have You", was released. The label followed up with a compilation that year, "The Best Of Lobo".
In 1976, Lobo started to break from Big Tree and Phil Gernhard, releasing the album Come With Me in Europe on the Philips label. "At First Sight" was the single. Neither were released in US.
1977 Lobo signed with Curb Records in 1977 and released the single "Afterglow", which was co-produced by Lobo and Gernhard. Another single, "You Are All I Ever Need" was released in 1978. It was last single to have Gernhard as producer.
In 1979, Lobo resurfaced on MCA Records, where he was paired with producer Bob Montgomery and released the single "Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love", which reached #23. He also released his first US album in four years, Lobo. Other singles for Curb were "Holding On For Dear Love", "With A Love Like Ours" and "Fight Fire With Fire".
Dissatisfied with the production of his records, Lobo sought a release from his Curb contract. He moved to Nashville and in 1981 he started his own label, Lobo Records, and released several singles including "I Don't Want To Want You", written by his brother, Roger Lavoie, "Come Looking For Me" and "Living My Life Without You". All making the country charts.
NOTE: The 1981 Disco Single by LOBO - "The Caribbean Disco Show" (Mercury - 1981) is not the same person as this Lobo.
Lobo Records became Evergreen Records in 1985. It released two singles, "Am I Going Crazy" and "Paint The Town Blue", a duet with Robin Lee.
Meanwhile, Lobo's popularity was growing in Asia, fanned by the release of his greatest hits compilations in 1987 and 1988.
In 1989, Lobo released his first new album in 10 years, Am I Going Crazy, made in Taiwan on UFO/WEA records and produced by Billy Aerts.
With his popularity in Asia sustained by the reissue of all his albums on CD, he signed a multi-album deal with PonyCanyon Records in Singapore, releasing Asian Moon (repackaging of tracks from Am I Going Crazy along with newly recorded tracks) in 1994, Classic Hits (re-recorded Lobo hits and some cover versions other artists' hits) in 1995 and in 1996 Sometimes (all new original songs). On another Asian label, Springroll Entertainment, he released You Must Remember This in 1997, an album of pop standards that was released in two formats, one with vocals and the other with instrumental tracks.
The East Asian financial crisis in 1997 drove his record labels out of business and Lobo retired to his home in Florida.
Retirement was short-lived, however, as in 2000 Lobo signed with a German record company, Gmbh Entertainment, and recorded a few tracks for various Hits CD's. He also co-wrote two Christmas songs with Billy Aerts, "A Big Kid's Christmas" and "Late Christmas Eve", which have been released on various Christmas compilations from 2000 to present.
Singles recorded during this period include "Caribbean Disco Show", "Let It Be Me", "Who'll Stop The Rain" and "Different Drum". These were all available on different "Greatest Hits" releases.
His popularity in Asia is having a resurgence, and in 2006 he toured in Southeast Asia.
Strangely, his music has been sampled by Melbourne experimental band Kooties, although they paid little respect to Lobo's original intentions.
In 2008 Lobo released his first new album in over 10 years. Out of Time features some new songs as well as the old favorites. Out of Time represents a step back to the original era of these recordings, revisiting his old songs the same way he wrote them; by doing all the instruments himself, they are Out of Time. It refers to the classic nature of the old songs, how they are still favorites, even though they don’t follow the norm of today’s songs.
Thinking Of You
Lobo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A whole lot worse for the wear
I may have lost the world I love
But at least I had been there
Lonesome, hurt and worried
With not a lot to do
Driving down Stone Mountain Road
Trying not to think of you
And still
They lay good on my mind
And surely but so slowly
I'm starting to unwind
Trying not to think of things
That you did or didn't do
Here I am once again
Trying not to think of you
But I all do is think of you
And where you might be now
What's new with you?
Do you still have Boo?
I gotta find a way some how
To stop thinking of you
I wonder who I'll find this time
To turn my head for awhile
Maybe I'll pick a Georgia peach
Or maybe walk a mile
Whichever way it
Don't much make a damn what I do
'Cause either way I'll spend my time
Trying not to think of you
In "Thinking of You," Lobo sings about returning to Atlanta heartbroken and trying to move on from a past love. He acknowledges that he may have lost what he loves but takes some solace in having been there. As he drives down Stone Mountain Road, he tries not to dwell on his feelings for his former love, but he finds it difficult to stop thinking about her. Lobo describes the warmth and serenity of the southern woods and how they weigh on his mind. Slowly, he starts to relax and unwind but has to keep reminding himself not to think about the things he did or did not do with his past love. Lobo realizes that he is not alone and wants to connect with someone else to take his mind off his former love, but he's not sure if it's the right thing to do. Nonetheless, he tries to find ways to move on, even if it means thinking of something or someone else.
The song is a poignant and relatable reflection on the struggle to move on after a relationship has ended. Lobo's lyrics capture the longing, confusion, and frustration that can come with trying to forget about someone you love but cannot be with. The imagery of the southern woods and Stone Mountain road creates a sense of peace and tranquility that contrasts with the turmoil and restlessness of the singer's thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
When I got back to Atlanta
Starts off describing the moment when the person arrives back to Atlanta.
A whole lot worse for the wear
States that the person is in bad shape physically or possibly, emotionally.
I may have lost the world I love
Suggests the person had something they loved and lost it in some way.
But at least I had been there
Speaks of the importance of being present in that moment.
Lonesome, hurt and worried
Describes the emotional state of the person as they are feeling lonely, hurt, and worried.
With not a lot to do
Indicates that the person is bored, possibly because they're not feeling their best mentally.
Driving down Stone Mountain Road
Refers to the location the person is driving to or from.
Trying not to think of you
Repeats the phrase used throughout the song, which means that the person is fixated on someone else in their mind.
The southern woods are warm
Creates an image of the environment and temperature around the person.
And still
Adds emphasis to the previous phrase, saying 'and even so,' or 'nevertheless.'
They lay good on my mind
Suggests that the atmosphere has a calming effect.
And surely but so slowly
Conveys that something is gradually happening or changing.
I'm starting to unwind
Tells how the person is beginning to relax.
Trying not to think of things
Reemphasizes the fixation of the person's thoughts.
That you did or didn't do
Suggests that the thoughts relate to a possible action done by the person they are fixated upon.
Here I am once again
Describes the person's location at the time.
Trying not to think of you
Repeats the previous line to further emphasize the person's state of mind.
But I all do is think of you
Repeats the phrase used throughout the song, emphasizing the person's fixation on the other person in their thoughts.
And where you might be now
Shows the person's curiosity about the whereabouts of the other person.
What's new with you?
Indicates the person's desire to know what is happening in the other person's life.
Do you still have Boo?
Asks if the other person has a pet that they used to previously have together.
I gotta find a way some how
Tells the listener of the song that the person is attempting to find a solution to their current mindset.
To stop thinking of you
Reemphasizes the person's goal to control their thoughts.
I wonder who I'll find this time
Shows the person's curiosity about meeting someone else.
To turn my head for awhile
Indicates that they want someone to distract them for a while.
Maybe I'll pick a Georgia peach
Implies that the person is considering the idea of a romantic fling with someone from the South.
Or maybe walk a mile
Suggests the idea of taking a walk for the purposes of distraction.
Whichever way it
Brings the listener into the next line and expands on the last line's concept.
Don't much make a damn what I do
Jeers at the idea of caring about the outcome of the person's actions.
'Cause either way I'll spend my time
Concludes the thought started with the previous line after a brief interruption.
Trying not to think of you
Reemphasizes the person's goal to control their thoughts.
Lyrics © DONALDSON PUBLISHING CO
Written by: PAUL ASH, WALTER DONALDSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind