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.
Turn Around
Los Lobos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or being confident
Not for smiling even crying
Or 'bout sentiment
Not 'bout richer or poorer
Or being affluent
Not 'bout sharp or even clever
Or intelligent
Intelligent
Don't really matter at all
When a house of cards gonna fall
Before you try again
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around
Never 'bout being wrong
Or ever right
Never a winner or loser
Or acting outta sight
Outta sight
Don't really matter at all
When a house of cards gonna fall
Before you try again
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around
Whether coming or going
Never know what to do
Never look for a reason
When you break the rules
Before you try again
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around
Turn around
Before you try again
Turn around
In Los Lobos's song "Turn Around", the lyrics seem to speak of the futility in striving for things that ultimately don't matter. The opening lines mention that it's not about winning or losing, being confident, or even sentimentality. Essentially, the things that people often focus on or chase after are not significant in the grand scheme of things. The chorus repeats the phrase "Turn around" several times, which seems to advise listeners to re-evaluate their priorities and perspective before moving forward. This can be seen especially in the line "Before you try again, turn around". It's a reminder to take a moment to reflect before continuing down a certain path.
The second verse continues this line of thought, emphasizing that it's not about being right or wrong, or even standing out from others. The concept of a "house of cards" falling is repeated, suggesting that things may seem stable or secure but can be easily toppled. The bridge is somewhat enigmatic but seems to be saying that the future is uncertain and one should not always try to find a clear reason for why things happen, as sometimes it's best to just move on. Overall, the song seems to encourage listeners to take a step back and consider what truly matters in life, rather than getting caught up in unimportant distractions.
Line by Line Meaning
Not 'bout winning or losing
This song is not about competing or succeeding.
Or being confident
It's not about having self-assurance either.
Not for smiling even crying
It's not about expressing emotions through tears or laughter.
Or 'bout sentiment
Nor is it about feelings or emotions.
Not 'bout richer or poorer
It's not about wealth or status.
Or being affluent
It's not about being well-off financially.
Not 'bout sharp or even clever
It's not about being quick-witted or smart.
Or intelligent
It's not about intellectual ability.
Don't really matter at all
None of these things are important.
When a house of cards gonna fall
When everything is about to crumble.
Before you try again
Before you attempt to rebuild or start anew.
Turn around
Look back and reassess.
Turn around
Reevaluate your situation from a different perspective.
Turn around
Stop and reconsider your options.
Turn around
Think before you act.
Never 'bout being wrong
It's not about making mistakes or being right all the time.
Or ever right
It's not about always being correct.
Never a winner or loser
It's not a competition with a victor or a loser.
Or acting outta sight
It's not about putting on a show or pretending to be something you're not.
Whether coming or going
Whether you're arriving or departing.
Never know what to do
You're unsure of what steps to take.
Never look for a reason
You're not searching for an explanation or justification.
When you break the rules
When you go against convention or transgressing societal norms.
Before you try again
Before you make another attempt.
Turn around
Reassess your actions and their consequences.
Turn around
Re-evaluate your motives and decisions.
Turn around
Take a step back and analyze the situation before proceeding.
Turn around
Reflect on your past mistakes and learn from them.
Before you try again
Don't rush into the same pattern of behavior again.
Turn around
Break the cycle and try a new approach.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PEREZ HIDALGO
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?