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.

St. Louis Blues Mambo
Perez Prado and His Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I hate to see that evening sun go down
I hate to see that evening sun go down
Cause my baby, he's gone left this town

Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way

St. Louis woman with her diamond ring
Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere

I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me

I love my baby like a school boy loves his pie

Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
I love my man till the day I die

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pérez Prado & His Orchestra's song St. Louis Blues Mambo evoke feelings of loss and heartbreak. The first two lines express a sense of sadness as the singer watches the evening sun go down, knowing that their lover has left town. The next lines suggest that the singer is feeling hopeless about the future, saying that they will feel the same way tomorrow as they do today. The singer goes on to say that they may pack their truck and leave town, giving up on finding happiness where they are.

The song then introduces the St. Louis woman, who is able to control the man that the singer loves. The singer blames the woman for their lover's departure, saying that if it hadn't been for her interference, their relationship would not have fallen apart. The final lines repeat the refrain of the song, stating that the singer has the St. Louis blues and loves their man more than anything.

Overall, the song captures the mood and emotions of someone who has been left behind by their lover. It conveys a sense of hopelessness, longing, and heartbreak, all while using vivid imagery and relatable themes. Through the use of powerful lyrics and lively music, St. Louis Blues Mambo continues to be an iconic piece of musical history.

Line by Line Meaning

I hate to see that evening sun go down
It pains me to witness the setting of the sun, symbolizing the departure of my loved one.

Cause my baby, he's gone left this town
My beloved has abandoned this town and left me in sorrow.

Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If tomorrow brings the same emotions as today, I will leave this place for good.

I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way
I will pack my belongings and depart from here without delay.

St. Louis woman with her diamond ring
The woman from St. Louis flaunts her valuable diamond ring.

Pulls that man around by her, if it wasn't for her and her
She controls her man, who would not have achieved anything without her.

That man I love would have gone nowhere, nowhere
The man whom I adore would not have made any progress without the help of his partner.

I got the St. Louis blues, blues as I can be
I am overcome by sadness and feel the St. Louis blues to the fullest extent.

That man's got a heart like a rock cast in the sea
My beloved has an unfeeling and insensitive heart, like a stone thrown into the ocean.

Or else he wouldn't have gone so far from me
If he had a caring heart, he would not have left me so far behind.

I love my baby like a school boy loves his pie
I cherish my significant other with the intense adoration similar to that of a schoolboy's love for his dessert.

Like a Kentucky colonel loves his mint 'n rye
I have deep affection for my man, comparable to the fondness of a Kentucky colonel for his favorite whiskey.

I love my man till the day I die
My affection for my beloved will endure until the end of my life.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO.,INC., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Christopher Handy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@zeeksterism

9y↑1

One of the 45's I got as birthday gifts when I turned 7. I still own it and treasure it.

@pindongoxD

11y↑2

this is pure gold... a sweet style of mambo :'D Thanks to the uploader ! from Peru.

@bennyjazzful

8y↑3

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a 72yo Aussie fan.

@zaettav

Marvelous!!

@alain59200

13y

great track my friend !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ozkatrz207

12y

bravo!!!!!!!!!!

@ozkatrz207

12y

bravo!

@konidolfine

12y

このレコード、10枚で1000円の安値で買った内の一枚に含まれていました。まあまあ再生に耐えそうな状態だったので、喜んで買って帰り、落ち着いてレーベルを見たら落書きが（笑）プラドもかなりの回数来日しているので自筆サインの可能性もあるのでしょうが、「お調子者の所有者がいたずらでサインした」という、古本等で良く見かけるパターンかなと思っております。そもそも彼の筆跡も見たことがないのでなんとも。。。(-_-;)