Universally known as the King of the Mambo, Pérez Prado was the single most… Read Full Bio ↴Universally known as the King of the Mambo, Pérez Prado was the single most important musician involved in the hugely popular Latin dance craze. Whether he actually created the rhythm is somewhat disputed, but it's abundantly clear that Prado developed it into a bright, swinging style with massive appeal for dancers of all backgrounds and classes. Prado's mambo was filled with piercing high-register trumpets, undulating saxophone counterpoint, atmospheric organ (later on), and harmonic ideas borrowed from jazz. While his tight percussion arrangements allowed for little improvisation, they were dense and sharply focused, keeping the underlying syncopations easy for dancers to follow. Prado played the piano, but was often more in his element as the focal point of the audience's excitement; he leaped, kicked, danced, shouted, grunted, and exhorted his musicians with a dynamic stage presence that put many more sedate conductors and bandleaders to shame. With this blueprint, Prado brought mambo all the way into the pop mainstream, inspiring countless imitators and scoring two number one singles on the pop charts (albeit in a smoother vein than the fare that first made his name) as the fad snowballed. He was a star throughout most of the Western Hemisphere during the '50s, and even after his popularity waned in the United States, he remained a widely respected figure in many Latin countries, especially his adopted home of Mexico. Prado is often best remembered for his softer, more commercial work, which has an undeniable kitschiness that plays well with modern-day lounge-revival hipsters. Unfortunately, that has served to obscure his very real credentials in the realm of authentic, unadulterated Latin dance music, and to this day he remains somewhat underappreciated.

Always In My Heart
Perez Prado and His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I left my heart in San Francisco.
High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.

When I come home to you, San Francisco,
your golden sun will shine for me!

I left my heart in San Francisco.
High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,

above the blue and windy sea.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,

Overall Meaning

"Always In My Heart" by Perez Prado and His Orchestra is a song that expresses a deep emotional attachment and longing for San Francisco. The lyrics portray a sense of nostalgia as the singer recounts leaving their heart in the city by the bay. The reference to San Francisco being high on a hill symbolizes the city's elevated position and its allure to the singer. The mention of the cable cars climbing halfway to the stars adds to the romanticized image of the city, emphasizing its unique charm and beauty.

The lyrics also highlight the unpredictable weather of San Francisco, with the morning fog chilling the air. However, despite the potential discomfort, the singer remains unwavering in their love for the city, as their true love waits for them there. The line "above the blue and windy sea" evokes the scenic Pacific Ocean that borders the city, further emphasizing the connection between the singer's love and the city itself.

Overall, "Always In My Heart" captures the sentiment of a love that transcends physical distance and serves as a tribute to the enduring impact and memory of San Francisco on the singer's heart.

Line by Line Meaning

I left my heart in San Francisco.
I have left behind my deepest emotions and feelings in the city of San Francisco.

High on a hill it calls to me
From an elevated location, it is beckoning me and enticing me.

to be where little cable cars
In order to exist in a place where small cable cars

climb halfway to the stars!
ascend to a height that is halfway towards the celestial bodies!

The morning fog may chill the air,
Although the mist that surrounds the city in the morning may create a cold atmosphere,

I don't care!
it doesn't concern me!

My love waits there in San Francisco,
The person I adore patiently awaits in San Francisco,

above the blue and windy sea.
overlooking the vast expanse of the azure and breezy ocean.

When I come home to you, San Francisco,
Upon my return to you, San Francisco,

your golden sun will shine for me!
your radiant and glowing sun will brightly light up my life!

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Douglas Cross, George Cory

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind