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.
Matter of Time
Los Lobos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come and hold me once more
Before I have to leave
Because there's a lot of work out there
Everything will be fine
And I'll send for you baby
Just a matter of time
Come and tell me once more
Before you have to go
That's there's a better world out there
Though it don't feel right
Will it be like I hope
Just a matter of time
And I hope it's all it seems
Not another empty dream
There's a time for you and me
In a place living happily
And I hope it's all it seems
Not another empty dream
There's a time for you and me
In a place living happily
Walk quietly, don't make a sound
Believe in what you're doing
I know we can't be wrong
Don't worry about us here
It will be alright
And we'll be there with you
Just a matter of time
And we'll all be together
Just a matter of time
A matter of time, a matter of time
We'll be together
In a matter of time
You and me, a matter of time
It will be like I hoped
A matter of time
Los Lobos's song "A Matter of Time" tells the story of someone leaving their loved ones behind to go out and find work, hoping for a better future. The first stanza speaks directly to a partner, urging them to hold the singer one last time before they leave. The second stanza reflects on the uncertainty of the future and the hope for a better world. The chorus emphasizes the idea that everything will work out in the end, as long as you have patience and faith. The final two stanzas act as a sort of pep talk for the person leaving, urging them to believe in themselves and not worry about those they leave behind, since everything will eventually fall into place.
The song overall is a powerful message of hope and perseverance, set to a catchy and uplifting melody. It speaks to anyone who has ever had the courage to take a risk and hope for a better future, as well as to those left behind to wait and hope for their loved one's safe return. It's a song about the power of love and the human spirit, and a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is always hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak softly, don't wake the baby
Don't talk too loudly and wake up the baby.
Come and hold me once more
Please hug me one last time before you leave.
Before I have to leave
Before I have to depart for work.
Because there's a lot of work out there
I need to leave because there is a lot of work to do.
Everything will be fine
Don't worry, everything will turn out okay.
And I'll send for you baby
I will come back for you when I am able.
Just a matter of time
It won't be long before we are reunited.
Our life, the only thing we know
Our life is all we have and we know it well.
Come and tell me once more
Please reassure me once more before you go.
Before you have to go
Before you need to leave.
That's there's a better world out there
There is a better world beyond what we know.
Though it don't feel right
Even though things don't feel quite right at the moment.
Will it be like I hope
Will things turn out as I am hoping they will?
And I hope it's all it seems
I hope that the future is as good as it appears.
Not another empty dream
I hope that this hope for the future is not just another unfulfilling dream.
There's a time for you and me
There is a time for us to be together.
In a place living happily
We will be together in a happy place.
Walk quietly, don't make a sound
Please walk quietly and avoid making noise.
Believe in what you're doing
Have faith in what you are doing.
I know we can't be wrong
I believe that we are doing the right thing.
Don't worry about us here
Don't be concerned about us who are staying behind.
It will be alright
Everything will be okay.
And we'll be there with you
We will be there with you in the near future.
And we'll all be together
The three of us will all be together.
A matter of time, a matter of time
We just need to wait patiently for our reunion.
We'll be together
We will be together soon.
You and me, a matter of time
We just need to wait for the right time to be together.
It will be like I hoped
It will turn out as I have been wishing for.
A matter of time
Our reunion is simply a matter of time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID HIDALGO, LOUIS FRAUSTO PEREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Pardue
One of the greatest American Bands ever, Viva Las Familias Mexicanos! It just ain't America without you.
fredlyr1
Si, viva la raza.
Patrick Bush
Los Lobos my favorite band of all time. Incredible talent for the ages
Victor Costilla
As far I'm concerned Los Lobos is the greatest band ever. If I recall correctly, they revisited this story line in the song "Tony y Maria" on the Good Morning Aztlan album. They picked up this couple's story years later..."genius!"
Jesse Haro
Sung with such emotion. Very touching
Minh Châu Nguyễn
Thật tuyệt vời!
Now I Know
I grew up watching La Bamba and saw these guys in concert. They're awesome. This is one of my favorite songs, this and La Pistola y el Corazon.
fredlyr1
Y La Pistola es un album estupendo.
Patrick Bush
Los Lobos my favorite group of all times
Chris Coyle
I'm 66 and have heard about twelve shit tons of good music. This record is in my all-time Top 10.