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.
Misery
Los Lobos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I couldn't find nobody to love for me
I've been hurt and I've been scorned
And had no lovin' since you've been gone
Misery, oh misery
You're killing me
I said I wouldn't fall in love no more
Since I've lost everything I had
My heart is broken and I'm feeling so sad
Misery, oh this misery
It's killing me
Day and night I pace the floor
Hoping I'll be happy once more
My life is up, and it's such a shame
I lost my girl, and have no one to blame
Now, now, misery, oh, misery
It's killing me
I said long, long ago
I said I wouldn't fall in love no more
Since I lost everything I had
My heart is broken and I'm feeling so sad
Now, now, misery, oh, misery
It's killing me
Now, now, misery, oh, misery
It's killing me
Get away, get away, get away
You're killing me
Get away, get away, get away
Oh, you're killing me
You're killing me
The lyrics of Los Lobos's song "Misery" express deep feelings of loneliness, heartbreak, and despair. The singer is expressing their emotional state of being alone in misery, unable to find someone to love them. They have been hurt and scorned, and since losing their love, they have had no one to fill that void in their life. The repetition of the line "I'm alone in misery" emphasizes the overwhelming sense of isolation and sadness.
The singer reflects on their decision not to fall in love again, as they have lost everything they once had. Their heart is broken, and they are consumed by sadness. The repetition of the word "misery" throughout the song reinforces the intensity of their emotions. They spend their days and nights pacing the floor, desperately hoping to find happiness once more. However, they feel that their life is in shambles, and they blame themselves for losing their girl and being left with no one to blame but themselves.
The repeated plea to "get away" suggests a desire to escape the overwhelming pain experienced, as they feel that it is slowly killing them. The final repetition of "you're killing me" conveys the intensity of their anguish and the destructive impact it has on their well-being.
Overall, the lyrics of "Misery" paint a vivid picture of a person grappling with loneliness, heartbreak, and a sense of self-blame. The repetition throughout the song emphasizes the intensity of these emotions and the toll it takes on their overall well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm alone in misery
I am feeling lonely and unhappy
I couldn't find nobody to love for me
I have been unable to find someone to love and care for me
I've been hurt and I've been scorned
I have experienced emotional pain and rejection
And had no lovin' since you've been gone
I have not received any affection or love since you left
Misery, oh misery
The feeling of extreme sadness and suffering
You're killing me
This agony and unhappiness is overwhelming me
Oh, mama no
An expression of frustration and despair
I said I wouldn't fall in love no more
I promised myself not to experience romantic love again
Since I've lost everything I had
After losing everything that was important to me
My heart is broken and I'm feeling so sad
I am emotionally devastated and filled with sorrow
Oh this misery
This state of extreme unhappiness and suffering
It's killing me
It is causing immense pain and distress
Day and night I pace the floor
I spend my days and nights restlessly walking back and forth
Hoping I'll be happy once more
I yearn for the possibility of being happy again
My life is up, and it's such a shame
Everything in my life has fallen apart, and it is a great disappointment
I lost my girl, and have no one to blame
I lost the person I loved, and there is no one at fault
Now, now, misery, oh, misery
The ongoing feeling of immense unhappiness and suffering
I said long, long ago
I made a promise a while back
Since I lost everything I had
After losing everything that was dear to me
Now, now, misery, oh, misery
The continuous state of extreme sadness and suffering
Get away, get away, get away
I want to escape from this overwhelming misery
You're killing me
This feeling of extreme unhappiness is causing me pain and distress
Oh, you're killing me
The intensity of this agony and unhappiness is overwhelming me
You're killing me
This distress and sorrow is causing me immense pain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Don Juan Mancha
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joseph Lafo
Always a great voice…comforting that LL is still out there providing us with musical pleasures….
Stuart blackwood
This sounds like classic Lobos
Susan Nares
puts me in a dancing mood! Thank you!! After this past pandemic year, this song is right on. Keep it alive! The music that is ;) Welcome Back! Stay well, America needs you, it's a comfort to hear your music! Love you!
Leonor Lizardo
As always what a great voice, love the upbeat tempo, haunting and oh so good. Really like the shot of Downtown LA, from the Eastside.
Mookie Feldman
Los Lobos still kickin’ ass!!
Dave Ubermensch
I just picked up Native Sons on vinyl. LL, you guys are awesome. Please make music forever.
Leo Lorona
THIS! Just so *$@%# GOOOOOOODDDDD!!! SO hope to catch a show with this on the setlist. HOWLING!!!!
James Bradley McCallum
great...always an event when Los Lobos drops a new album
Lisa Rayner
Wow, you guys still sound amazing and I love this song. You achieve a moody song even with that up tempo swing groove. Thank you, keep on making music!
Fernando Peralta
Siempre han sido grandes cantantes