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.
Some Say
Los Lobos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When there's no shoes on their feet
When their stomach's empty
When there's nothing left to eat
How sad it is to see him
With his eyes down on the street
And when the night wraps up the light
Some say n' some do
When the boys stand on the corner
When there's nobody around at home
Their hands are down in their pockets
Who will show them the way to go
Some say n' some do
Some say n' some do
Some say n' some do
I will, if you do
If I can, you will too
But I can't, cuz you won't
N' you can't, so I don't
Who will give more then a look
As their lives go flying by
As the sun goes up and down
Who will be left to cry
Some say n' some do
Some say n' some do
Some say n' some do
Los Lobos's "Some Say" is a song about the need for compassion and action towards those who are suffering, specifically children who do not have basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. The opening lines ask who will take care of these children when there is nothing left to provide for them. The lyrics paint a portrait of a boy with his eyes down on the street, pleading for help that may never come. The song goes on to ask who will show lost boys the way when they have no one to guide them. The refrain of "some say" repeated throughout the song implies that while many people talk of wanting to help others, only some actually follow through on their promises.
The song's message is a sobering reminder of the reality that many people face every day. The lyrics evoke a sense of empathy for those who are struggling and serve as a call to action. Los Lobos's use of simple language and repetition amplifies the song's emotional impact. By repeating the phrase "some say," the song highlights the divide between words and actions, and encourages listeners to take a more active role in helping those in need.
Line by Line Meaning
Who will clothe the children
It is worrisome that there are children who don't have clothes
When there's no shoes on their feet
It is alarming that there are children who don't have shoes
When their stomach's empty
It is unfortunate that there are children who don't have food
When there's nothing left to eat
It is sad that there is no food left for the children to eat
How sad it is to see him
It is heartbreaking to see someone in such a distressing state
With his eyes down on the street
He is probably feeling hopeless and helpless
And when the night wraps up the light
The night is a dark and lonely time for those who have no place to go
Who will give him a bed to sleep
It is a basic human need to have a place to sleep and it's sad that some don't have it
When the boys stand on the corner
The fact that the boys are just standing around suggests they don't have anywhere else to go
When there's nobody around at home
It is concerning that there seems to be no one looking after them
Their hands are down in their pockets
This could be a sign that they have nothing to do and nowhere to go
Who will show them the way to go
These boys are in need of guidance which they are not getting
I will, if you do
The singer is willing to help out if others join in to lend a hand
If I can, you will too
If the singer is capable of helping, others should also be able to help out
But I can't, cuz you won't
It's difficult for one person to make a huge difference alone, especially if others aren't willing to help
N' you can't, so I don't
If everyone thinks like this, nothing will ever get done and things won't improve
Who will give more than a look
Simply looking isn't enough, action is required to make a change
As their lives go flying by
Time is precious and it's sad to see people continuing to struggle without any improvement
As the sun goes up and down
Life continues to move on, but the problems faced by people must be addressed
Who will be left to cry
Without intervention, the situation will only worsen and eventually, there will be no one left to help
Some say n' some do
There are those who just talk about making a change and those who actually take action
Some say n' some do
There are those who just talk about making a change and those who actually take action
Some say n' some do
There are those who just talk about making a change and those who actually take action
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PEREZ ROSAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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?