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.
The Breakdown
Los Lobos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And so hard in times when I could use
Some help coming by my way
I just don't know why you won't take me for myself
You say that I should be somebody
Don't you think that I'd be funny
In a suit and tie, ol' mister nine-to-five
I've been racking my brain
Trying to find a way to make ends meet
I've been making two bridges
Write you songs that you can sing
There ain't anybody else that I could be
Say, how long will it be now
How long will it be now
How long will it be now
How long will it take to make him see my side
I ain't no nine to five
I just don't know why you won't take me for myself
If you could only own a mountain made of solid gold
What difference would it make
You'd just have more to break
And I don't know why you won't take me for myself
I just don't know why you won't take me for myself
I just don't know why you won't take me for myself
I just don't know why you won't take me for myself
The Breakdown by Los Lobos is a song about the struggles of being true to oneself in a world that expects conformity. The opening lines of the song express the frustration and confusion of the singer as he reflects on the moments in life when things seem easy, yet the times he could use some help are the hardest. This could be a metaphor for how societal norms and expectations are easy to follow but being oneself is hard in a world that deems it unacceptable. The singer then questions why the person he is addressing won't accept him for who he truly is, instead of pressing him to fit in and be like everyone else.
The second verse of the song highlights the pressure the singer feels to conform to the traditional 9-5 job and dress code. He sees himself as someone who would be funny in a suit and tie but is not willing to give up his authentic self to fit the boss's mold. The singer is doing everything he can to make ends meet: writing songs, trying to make two bridges meet, and be true to himself, but he cannot seem to make the person he's addressing see his side. The chorus leaves us questioning how long it would take for the other person to accept the singer, and the song ends with the same line repeated four times, expressing the frustration of being rejected.
Line by Line Meaning
How could things be so easy some days
Sometimes things in life seem effortless and uncomplicated.
And so hard in times when I could use
But in difficult situations, when I need help the most, things become challenging and complicated.
Some help coming by my way
I am hoping for someone to offer me support and assistance.
I just don't know why you won't take me for myself
I am confused as to why you can't accept me for who I am.
You say that I should be somebody
You are implying that I am not good enough as I am and I need to change to become someone else.
Don't you think that I'd be funny
You seem to think that changing who I am would make me a more appealing and amusing person.
In a suit and tie, ol' mister nine-to-five
You want me to conform to the typical expectations of society and become a traditional, corporate worker.
I've been racking my brain
I've been putting in a lot of mental effort.
Trying to find a way to make ends meet
I am struggling financially and trying to figure out how to make enough money to support myself.
I've been making two bridges
I have been putting in extra effort to try and make a positive difference in my life.
Write you songs that you can sing
I am writing music and creating art that I hope will speak to you and resonate with you.
There ain't anybody else that I could be
I am being myself and there is no other version of me that exists.
Say, how long will it be now
I am wondering how much longer it will take for you to understand and accept me for who I am.
How long will it take to make him see my side
I am hoping that eventually you will be able to understand my perspective and see things from my point of view.
I ain't no nine to five
I am not meant to be a traditional, corporate worker who adheres to societal expectations.
If you could only own a mountain made of solid gold
Even if you had all the worldly possessions you could ever want or need, it wouldn't change who I am.
What difference would it make
Material possessions can only provide temporary happiness and ultimately do not define our true selves.
You'd just have more to break
The more possessions you have, the more attachments and vulnerabilities you create.
I just don't know why you won't take me for myself
I am still struggling to understand why you can't accept and appreciate me for who I am.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID HIDALGO, LOUIS A. LOU PEREZ, T-BONE BURNETT
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?