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.
Walking Song
Los Lobos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talking to myself. And I've got no money,
Got no honey, trouble is all I have
It happened just the other night
I had been out drinking and I was
Feeling fine, but when I got home
She was at the door, she had fire
So I tried to keep my cool, wasn't
Much more that I could do.
Then she let me have it right between
The eyes and I knew our love was thru
She's got me walking, got me talking,
Talking to myself. And I've got no money,
Got no honey, trouble is all I have
Now what is a man to do
When a woman wants it all from you
Says if you want to be my man
Better quit that band and stop
Acting like a fool
She's got me walking, got me talking,
Talking to myself. And I've got no money,
Got no honey, trouble is all I have
In "Walking Song", Los Lobos tell a story of a man who is experiencing the aftermath of a breakup. The chorus of the song, "she's got me walking, got me talking, talking to myself" speaks to the way in which a difficult breakup can consume and overwhelm a person's thoughts and emotions. The verse surrounding the chorus sets the stage for the heartbreak. The singer had been out drinking and was feeling fine until he arrived home to find his partner waiting for him with "fire in her eyes". Despite his attempts to keep things cool, she breaks the news to him that their love is over.
The rest of the song sees the man grappling with his new reality. He has "no money, got no honey," and trouble is all he has. The final verse introduces a new layer of complexity to the man's situation when his ex-partner informs him that if he wants to be with her, he needs to quit his band and stop acting like a fool. The song ends on an unresolved note, leaving the listener to wonder what the man's next move might be.
Overall, "Walking Song" is a poignant and relatable portrait of heartbreak and the messy aftermath of a relationship's end.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got me walking, got me talking,
She's got a hold on me, making me nervous and anxious all the time.
Talking to myself. And I've got no money,
I am so down that I have no one to talk to but myself. Also, I am so broke that I can't afford anything.
Got no honey, trouble is all I have
I have no love in my life as she left me. Also, I am in deep trouble and everything seems to be falling apart.
It happened just the other night
The incident is recent and fresh.
I had been out drinking and I was
I was intoxicated and in high spirits.
Feeling fine, but when I got home
I was feeling good, but things took a turn for the worse when I arrived home.
She was at the door, she had fire
She was at the door, boiling over with anger.
In her eyes.
You could see the fury in her eyes.
So I tried to keep my cool, wasn't
I attempted to remain calm and collected, but it was challenging.
Much more that I could do.
I was powerless and in a difficult position.
Then she let me have it right between
Then she scolded and blamed me for everything.
The eyes and I knew our love was thru
She conveyed that our relationship was over through her piercing stare and words.
Now what is a man to do
What options does a man have in this situation?
When a woman wants it all from you
When a woman demands everything from you.
Says if you want to be my man
She threatened that if I want to be in a relationship with her, I need to make some changes.
Better quit that band and stop
She told me that I need to abandon my passion for music and stop acting immaturely.
Acting like a fool
She is stating that I am a fool who doesn't take things seriously.
Contributed by Luke A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jill Sharpe
My favorite Los Lobos tune! Love this you guys! Thank you! Is that Jeff playing sax? Not sure. It's the hat and the hair. ;) Jill