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.
La La La
Los Lobos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Porque vuelan mis cantares
Y digo lo que yo siento
Por toditos los lugares
Aqui vine porque vine
A la feria de las flores
No hay cerro que se me empine
Ni cuaco que se me atore
En mi caballo retinto
Y he venido de muy lejos
Yo traigo un cuete al cinto
Y con ella doy consejos
Atraves de la montaña
A venir a ver las flores
Aqui hay una rosa huraña
Que es la flor de mis amores
Aunque otro quiera cortarla
Yo la divise primero
Y juro que he de robarla
Aunque tenga jardinero
Yo la he de ver trasplantada
En el huerto de mi casa
Ay la la la y si sale el jardinero
Pues a ver, a ver que pasa
In this song, Los Lobos describe their love for singing in the wind and how it allows their songs to be heard far and wide. The lyrics speak to the power of music to express one's innermost feelings, no matter where they may be. The singer mentions that they came to the flower fair to enjoy the sights and sounds, and notes that no obstacle can stop them, as they are riding their trusted horse and carrying a gun to offer friendly advice to anyone who needs it.
As the singer traverses the mountain, they encourage listeners to come and see the beautiful flowers, including a rare and elusive rose that is the flower of their beloved. Despite others' attempts to cut the rose, the singer intends to steal it for their own garden. They express their desire to see it bloom in their own space, even if it means taking on the gardener.
The lyrics highlight the power of nature and music, speaking to universal themes that are often associated with the human experience. Los Lobos have a unique way of blending traditional Mexican and American music, making their songs appealing to a wider audience.
Line by Line Meaning
Me gusta cantarle al viento
I like to sing to the wind
Porque vuelan mis cantares
Because my songs fly away
Y digo lo que yo siento
And I say what I feel
Por toditos los lugares
All over the places
Aqui vine porque vine
I came here just because
A la feria de las flores
To the flower fair
No hay cerro que se me empine
No hill can bend me
Ni cuaco que se me atore
No obstacle can stop me
En mi caballo retinto
On my dark horse
Y he venido de muy lejos
And I've come from very far away
Yo traigo un cuete al cinto
I have a gun by my side
Y con ella doy consejos
And with it, I give advice
Atraves de la montaña
Through the mountains
A venir a ver las flores
To come and see the flowers
Aqui hay una rosa huraña
Here there's a shy rose
Que es la flor de mis amores
That's the flower of my love
Aunque otro quiera cortarla
Even if someone else wants to cut it
Yo la divise primero
I spotted it first
Y juro que he de robarla
And I swear I'll steal it
Aunque tenga jardinero
Even if there's a gardener
Yo la he de ver trasplantada
I'll see it replanted
En el huerto de mi casa
In my garden
Ay la la la y si sale el jardinero
Oh la la la, and if the gardener comes out
Pues a ver, a ver que pasa
We'll see what happens
Lyrics © Peer Music
Written by: JESUS RAMIREZ MONGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jose Flores
This proves without a shadow of a doubt that Old School is best!!!!!! Los Lobos are a living legend. What a joy to watch people of different ethnic groups having an awesome time and getting along. What a blessing to be able to make music like this that will stand the test of time.
Viv Higgins
How true,
squirrel7t7
How it should be..
Rick Baysinger
👍👍😊 Right on!!!!!
Elias Barnes
well said.
PtolemyJones
Um.... if Old School is the best, shouldn't Ritchie Valens be the measure here? These guys are new school to me.
PīŅGů PØłÞ
People look so happy and dancing away like there's no tomorrow, children running around... just a pure, positive vibe. Wish I could be like that.
phila3884
It was that late 80's/early 90's scene. Lots of mixed musical styles, tie dye, noodling riffs, great music. I mean can you imagine this breaking through to be a hit today??
Doubletake 123
@phila3884 Never happen. The leftist elites took over and want us miserable, self conscious and medicated.
Sumthin Awesome
RELATABLE!!!!