Vocalist/guitarist David Hidalgo and drummer Louie Pérez met at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, and bonded over their mutual affinity for obscure musical acts such as Fairport Convention, Randy Newman and Ry Cooder. Pérez recalls, "We’re looking at each other, 'You like this stuff? I thought I was the only weird one.' So I went over to his house one day for about a year, which we spent listening to records, playing guitars, and starting to write songs." The two borrowed reel-to-reel recorders from a friend and created multi-track recordings of music spanning from parody songs to free-form jazz. They later enlisted fellow students Cesar Rosas and Conrad Lozano to complete the group's line-up in 1973.
Formed in the late 1970's, band members Dave Hidalgo, Cesar Rojas, Steve Berlin, Louie Pérez and Conrad Lozano became the bellwether for Mexican-American music in the U.S. when they recorded the music for "La Bamba" in 1987, which added popular acclaim to the critical praise they had received for their 1984 album "How Will the Wolf Survive?".
They have since become one of the mainstays of the Latin music scene as well as rock music in general, staying together through over 20 albums, and for almost three decades, through changing music climate and personal tragedies, they've continued cranking out albums and touring to dedicated fans.
Billy 1
Los Lobos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lawman on your trail, he'd like to catch ya
Bounty hunters, too, they'd like to get ya
Billy, they don't like you to be so free.
Campin' out all night on the berenda
Dealin' cards 'til dawn in the hacienda
Up to Boot Hill they'd like to send ya
Playin' around with some sweet senorita
Into her dark hallway she will lead ya
In some lonesome shadows she will greet ya
Billy, you're so far away from home.
There's eyes behind the mirrors in empty places
Bullet holes and scars between the spaces
There's always one more notch and ten more paces
Billy, and you're walkin' all alone.
They say that Pat Garrett's got your number
So sleep with one eye open when you slumber
Every little sound just might be thunder
Thunder from the barrel of his gun.
Guitars will play your grand finale
Down in some Tularosa alley,
Maybe in the Rio Pecos valley
Billy, you're so far away from home.
There's always some new stranger sneakin' glances
Some trigger-happy fool willin' to take chances
And some old whore from San Pedro to make advances
Advances on your spirit and your soul.
The businessmen from Taos want you to go down
They've hired Pat Garrett to force a showdown.
Billy, don't it make ya feel so low-down
To be shot down by the man who was your friend?
Hang on to your woman if you got one
Remember in El Paso, once, you shot one.
She may have been a whore, but she was a hot one
Billy, you been runnin' for so long.
Guitars will play your grand finale
Down in some Tularosa alley
Maybe in the Rio Pecos valley
Billy, you're so far away from home
The lyrics to Los Lobos’s song “Billy 1” paint a vivid picture of a desperate situation. The singer, Billy, is on the run from law enforcement, bounty hunters, and others who want to bring him to justice or kill him. The lyrics describe the danger that is always present, with guns pointed at him and folks trying to sneak up on him. While there is a sense of chaos, there are some things that bring Billy comfort. He finds pleasure in the company of a “sweet senorita” and takes refuge in the thought of music playing his grand finale. Nevertheless, what is ultimately heartbreaking about these lyrics is that Billy is depicted as a person without a home or a place of safety.
Line by Line Meaning
There's guns across the river aimin' at ya
Danger is around the corner and people are trying to kill you.
Lawman on your trail, he'd like to catch ya
An official authority is after you and wants to capture you.
Bounty hunters, too, they'd like to get ya
Other people are also trying to get you by offering money as a reward.
Billy, they don't like you to be so free.
The society doesn't approve of your independent and free-spirited nature.
Campin' out all night on the berenda
You spend sleepless nights outside, probably due to fear and hiding.
Dealin' cards 'til dawn in the hacienda
You spend your time gambling in a large estate, perhaps trying to make money.
Up to Boot Hill they'd like to send ya
People are trying to get you killed and buried in a desolate cemetery called Boot Hill.
Billy, don't you turn your back on me.
The artist is warning you not to trust anyone and stay alert of your surroundings.
Playin' around with some sweet senorita
You are drawn to an attractive woman and are spending time with her behind closed doors.
Into her dark hallway she will lead ya
She is leading you into unfamiliar, potentially dangerous territory.
In some lonesome shadows she will greet ya
She will meet you in a place where no one else is around, adding to the sense of danger.
Billy, you're so far away from home.
You are in a distant land and feel homesick and lost.
There's eyes behind the mirrors in empty places
You feel like you are constantly being watched and are never truly alone.
Bullet holes and scars between the spaces
The surroundings are marked by violence and conflict, illustrating the danger you are in.
There's always one more notch and ten more paces
There is a constant threat and pressure to keep moving and stay one step ahead of your enemies.
Billy, and you're walkin' all alone.
Despite being surrounded by danger, you are facing it all alone with no one to depend on.
They say that Pat Garrett's got your number
There are rumors that the infamous lawman Pat Garrett is after you and has you in his sights.
So sleep with one eye open when you slumber
You can't let your guard down, even when you are asleep.
Every little sound just might be thunder
Small noises could signal imminent danger, adding to your paranoia.
Thunder from the barrel of his gun.
Pat Garrett could potentially shoot and kill you at any moment.
Guitars will play your grand finale
Music will accompany your inevitable and dramatic end.
Maybe in the Rio Pecos valley
Your grand finale could potentially happen in the Rio Pecos valley.
There's always some new stranger sneakin' glances
New, potentially dangerous people are always watching and potentially plotting against you.
Some trigger-happy fool willin' to take chances
Someone who is impulsive and eager to do harm may take an opportunity to harm you.
And some old whore from San Pedro to make advances
Even women in the area may try to seduce you or take advantage of you.
Advances on your spirit and your soul.
These advances could also harm you emotionally and psychologically, sapping your spirit and soul.
The businessmen from Taos want you to go down
Even the powerful businessmen in Taos have a stake in your death and want you gone.
They've hired Pat Garrett to force a showdown.
They've employed Pat Garrett to take you on and kill you.
Billy, don't it make ya feel so low-down
The betrayal of someone who you thought was your friend is deeply painful and shameful.
To be shot down by the man who was your friend?
To be killed by someone who you once trusted and called a friend is the ultimate betrayal.
Hang on to your woman if you got one
If you have a woman in your life, hold on to her tightly in what little time you have left.
Remember in El Paso, once, you shot one.
You have a violent and dangerous past, and may have killed a woman before.
She may have been a whore, but she was a hot one
Even if the woman you killed was promiscuous, it doesn't change the fact that you killed an innocent person.
Billy, you been runnin' for so long.
You have been on the run for a very long time and are probably exhausted and ready for it all to be over.
Contributed by Logan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jim Wood
on Me Estas Matando
I would like to learn this song. My Spanish is sufficient, but I require the lyrics. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jim Wood
on Me Estas Matando
I can't seem to find lyrics for this song. Can anyone help me out?