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.
Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love
Lobo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew that I had better play it cool,
I'm doing my best trying to resist
'Cause I ain't no fool.
Where in the world did you come from baby?
You waited just a little too long
To look my way.
Where were you
When I was falling in love?
I was looking for you, baby.
Where were you
When I was falling in love?
Looking for you, baby.
If I'd ever looked in those eyes before,
We'd be together tonight I'm sure.
Where were you
When I was falling in love?
Where were you
Lost and looking for love?
If I'd have met you sooner,
I'd be talking to you and playing the game.
But the best thing for me to do
Is get up and leave without knowing your name.
It might have been something special, baby,
Something only people in love could understand,
Like this ring on my hand.
Lobo's song "Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love" is about missed opportunities and the regret that comes with them. The opening lines, "When your eyes met mine, I knew that I had better play it cool," suggest that the singer feels an immediate attraction to someone but tries to suppress it. He is trying to resist falling in love because he doesn't want to appear foolish. The chorus then asks the question "Where were you when I was falling in love?" which implies that the singer had been looking for love and had missed his chance with this person. If only they had met sooner, they could have been together.
The lyrics also express a sense of frustration and confusion. The singer wonders where this person has been all his life, waiting just a little too long to catch his eye. He regrets not meeting them sooner because he is sure they would be together if they had. He concludes with the lines "It might have been something special, baby, Something only people in love could understand, Like this ring on my hand," which suggests that he has found someone else and is now committed to them. The ring symbolizes the love he has found, but he still wonders what could have been.
Overall, "Where Were You When I Was Falling In Love" is a nostalgic song about missed opportunities and the regret that comes with them. The singer's emotions are expressed clearly through his lyrics, and the chorus is particularly memorable.
Line by Line Meaning
When your eyes met mine,
The moment we made eye contact, I realized I needed to play it cool and not show too much interest in you.
I knew that I had better play it cool,
I was aware that being too eager could turn you off, so I tried to hide my feelings and act disinterested.
I'm doing my best trying to resist
I am fighting my urge to pursue you because I don't want to come off as desperate or needy.
'Cause I ain't no fool.
I am not foolish enough to make myself vulnerable to rejection by showing my true feelings too soon.
Where in the world did you come from baby?
I am surprised and intrigued by your sudden appearance in my life.
You waited just a little too long
I think you missed your chance with me by not showing interest sooner.
To look my way.
If you had noticed me earlier, we might have had a chance.
Now it's a little too late.
But now it seems like the opportunity for us to be together has passed.
Where were you
I wonder where you were when I was actively searching for love.
When I was falling in love?
During the time when I was open to finding love and exploring romantic relationships.
I was looking for you, baby.
I was seeking someone like you who could be my partner and love me the way I desired.
If I'd ever looked in those eyes before,
If our paths had crossed earlier and I had seen your eyes, I would have fallen in love with you instantly.
We'd be together tonight I'm sure.
I believe that if we had met earlier, we would be in a relationship right now.
Lost and looking for love?
Were you also searching for love like I was, hoping to find someone who could make you happy?
If I'd have met you sooner,
If we had crossed paths earlier, I would have taken the chance to pursue you without hesitation.
I'd be talking to you and playing the game.
I would be charming you and flirting with you to win your heart.
But the best thing for me to do
However, it is better for me to leave now and not get too involved with someone who is not into me.
Is get up and leave without knowing your name.
I am going to walk away from you and never learn your name, as it is the best way to protect myself from getting hurt.
It might have been something special, baby,
There could have been something magical and unique between us that only two people in love could understand.
Something only people in love could understand,
It could have been a deep and profound level of connection and intimacy that only comes with true love.
Like this ring on my hand.
The ring on my finger is symbolic of the love and commitment that I am capable of, but now it is just a reminder of what could have been.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEFF ALAN SILBAR, LORBER JOHN SAMUEL, SAMUEL LORBER JOHN, STEVE JOBE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joseph Collins
Let me tell you a secret. Lobo is still alive and well. He and a good friend of mine Jimmy Payne (who wrote "woman woman" that Gary Puckett and the Union Gap made a huge hit) are still writing. In fact a song they wrote about George Jones, "The greatest country singer of them all", recorded by Dennis Ledbetter is currently #1 in Europe on the country chart. If you like that old country sound you GOTTA hear it. But I agree with the crowd, where were you was and IS an awesome song!!!!!
Marshall Lancaster
Well said. There is definitely something great and long lasting about this song. It brings to mind that fleeting fall of 1979. Such a classic sound. His best I think.
Debbie
Just found this "classic" today...So happy I didn't miss out on it.💙 It's truly a beautiful song...💙
Sydney Ghisyawan
I remember staying late at night to listen to a radio program named shindig just to listen to this song in 1979 ...still listening in 2018 ..still sounding great
INTROVERT4EVER FREDDY
2022 baby✌
Marshall Lancaster
I remember it from back then too. Great great tune.
rnasty 562
Thanks for that visual
Phet Tumbling
I wasn't born when Mr. Lobo released this 😎 song, but this are the kind of songs that I love listenin' to.
Sonia Maria Miliano
Que música linda!
Loretta Hennings
What an incredible perfection song!!! Who can beat this one?! ❤❤❤❤❤ Lobo (Where were you when I was falling in love) 🎵🎤🎸🎶🎻