His music reflects his interest and love for a variety of music including Latin music, country, blues, jazz and vintage rock and roll.
He started playing bass guitar while in high school and was a member of a small band playing the high school dance circuit. That band was known alternately as The Boys, The Tom Boys, and The Basics with Malo sharing vocal duties with guitarist, Tommy Anthony. In 1990, he became the vocalist for the four-man band, The Mavericks, for whom he penned most of the songs. In the vein of his singing idol Roy Orbison, Malo's soaring tenor voice helped the band create a unique blend of traditional Country music and 1950's Rock 'n' Roll. Evolving to an eclectic blend of Latin rhythms, classic country, jazz, pop and western swing, the Mavericks became one of the top American bands of the 1990s. They were voted by the Academy of Country Music, "Top Vocal Group and "Top New Vocal Group" in 1994. They were voted "Vocal Group of the Year" by the Country Music Association in 1995. On the same year, they won a Grammy for "Best Country Performance by a Group or Duo" for the song "Here Comes the Rain" from the album "Music For All Occasions".In 1996, they won again "Vocal Group of the Year" by the Country Music Association. . And on the same year, in London, England, they were awarded " Best Live Performance By a Group", " Best Vocal Performance by an Artist"," Best Vocal Group of the Year" and " Best International Touring Artist of the Year" by CMA- Europe. In Ireland, 1996, they won " Best Group of the Year" by the Irish Country Music Association.
Cold Cold Heart
Raul Malo Lyrics
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Yet you're afraid each thing I do is just some evil game
A little memory from your lonesome past keeps us so far apart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?
Well, another love before my time made your heart sad and blue
And so my heart is paying now for things I didn't do
Well, in anger unkind words are said that make the teardrops start
You'll never know how much it hurts to see you sit and cry
You know you need and want my love yet you're afraid to try
Why do you run and hide from lies? To try it just ain't smart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?
Well, there was a time when I believed that you belonged to me
But now I know your heart is shackled to a memory
The more I learn to care for you, the more we drift apart
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?
In Raul Malo's song "Cold Cold Heart," the singer is pleading with their beloved and trying to understand why they cannot seem to connect on a deeper level. The lyrics are full of raw emotion and vulnerability as the singer admits to trying so hard to show that their love is real, yet they are met with constant doubt and suspicion. The song is essentially a plea to be seen and understood by their partner, who seems to be stuck in the past, still carrying the weight of a previous love that ended badly.
The line "A little memory from your lonesome past keeps us so far apart" conveys the idea that the partner's past heartbreak is causing them to hold back in their current relationship, not allowing themselves to fully trust and open up to their partner. The singer expresses deep sadness at seeing their partner cry and being unable to help them move on from their past.
The song is ultimately about the pain of unrequited love and the frustration of not being able to bridge the gap between two hearts. The singer's desperation and longing is palpable throughout the song, and the question "why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?" echoes throughout as a testament to their desire to break down the walls that their partner has put up.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I tried so hard, my dear, to show that you're my every dream
I put in a lot of effort to prove to you that you're everything to me
Yet you're afraid each thing I do is just some evil game
You're scared that I have ulterior motives behind everything I do
A little memory from your lonesome past keeps us so far apart
Your past experiences are preventing us from being close
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?
I wish I could erase your doubts and fears and make you warm up to me
Well, another love before my time made your heart sad and blue
Your heart was broken by someone else before I came along
And so my heart is paying now for things I didn't do
I'm being punished for someone else's mistakes
Well, in anger unkind words are said that make the teardrops start
When we argue, hurtful things are said that make you cry
You'll never know how much it hurts to see you sit and cry
It breaks my heart to see you sad
You know you need and want my love yet you're afraid to try
You're aware that you want my love but you're scared to take a chance
Why do you run and hide from lies? To try it just ain't smart
You avoid taking risks because you're worried about getting hurt again
Well, there was a time when I believed that you belonged to me
I used to think we were meant to be together
But now I know your heart is shackled to a memory
But now I realize that your heart is still stuck on your past
The more I learn to care for you, the more we drift apart
The harder I try, the further apart we seem to become
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?
I wish I could make you trust me and open up to me
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?
I keep wondering why you're so distant and cold towards me
Why can't I free your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?
I keep hoping that someday you'll let go of your past and let me in
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Hank Williams, Sr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind