Los Lobos is a Mexican-American rock band from East Los Angeles, California… Read Full Bio ↴Los Lobos is a Mexican-American rock band from East Los Angeles, California, USA, heavily influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country music, folk, blues, and traditional Spanish / Mexican music such as boleros and norteño.

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.

Little Things
Los Lobos Lyrics

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I’ve scaled the highest mountain
Crossed the big blue sea
Chased that mighty, mighty dollar
The wealthy rich man I could be

Little things all around me
Little things I could never see
Like the love you tried to give me

And in the end just threw away

I stood atop the golden tower
Rode upon a silver steed
Piled the riches higher and higher
More than a man could ever need

Little things all around me
Little things that I could never see
Like the heart beating inside me
That I just threw away

Like this heart beating inside me
That I just threw away

Those little things all around me
Little things I never learn to see
Like the love you tried to give me
That I went and threw away
Like the love you tried to give me
I just threw away
Ahh threw away

Little things all around me
Little things that I could never see

Like the heart breaking inside me
That I just threw away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Los Lobos's song "Little Things" explore the regret of a man who has chased wealth and material success at the expense of more important things, namely love and connection with others. Throughout the song, the singer speaks of scaling mountains, crossing seas, and amassing riches, but acknowledges that he has ignored and discarded the small, meaningful elements of life in the process.

The chorus of "Little Things" is particularly poignant, as the singer looks back on what he has lost: "Little things all around me, little things I could never see, like the love you tried to give me, and in the end just threw away." The love that he once had, but ultimately dismissed or mistreated, is now something that he longs for and laments.

The song's message is about the importance of recognizing and valuing the small, everyday moments of life that can easily be overlooked in the pursuit of bigger things. The singer's remorse over lost love and missed opportunities serves as a cautionary tale, a warning to others not to let their ambitions blind them to the true riches and joys of life.

Line by Line Meaning

I’ve scaled the highest mountain
I've achieved great feats and accomplished what may seem impossible.

Crossed the big blue sea
I've explored the vastness of the world and discovered new things.

Chased that mighty, mighty dollar The wealthy rich man I could be
I pursued money and material possessions in hopes of becoming rich and successful.

Little things all around me Little things I could never see Like the love you tried to give me And in the end just threw away
Despite my accomplishments, I failed to appreciate the small things in life such as the love that someone tried to give me, which I ultimately dismissed and lost.

I stood atop the golden tower Rode upon a silver steed Piled the riches higher and higher More than a man could ever need
I amassed wealth and power beyond what I needed, living a lavish and extravagant lifestyle.

Little things all around me Little things that I could never see Like the heart beating inside me That I just threw away
In the midst of my success, I overlooked the simple joys of life, including my own beating heart which I neglected to care for.

Like this heart beating inside me That I just threw away
I failed to appreciate the value of my own life and health, ultimately neglecting my own well-being.

Those little things all around me Little things I never learn to see Like the love you tried to give me That I went and threw away
I failed to recognize the love and care that was offered to me, which I foolishly ignored and lost.

Like the love you tried to give me I just threw away Ahh threw away
I carelessly discarded the affection and kindness that was offered to me, causing unnecessary pain and regret.

Little things all around me Little things that I could never see Like the heart breaking inside me That I just threw away
As a result of my neglect and disregard for the simple things in life, I was left with a broken heart, a burden that weighed heavily on me.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID KENT HIDALGO, LOUIS FRAUSTO PEREZ

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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