Maria
Santana Lyrics

Ladies and gents
Addressing the audience

Turn up your sound system
Increase the volume of your music speakers

To the Sound of Carlos Santana
Listen to the composition created by Carlos Santana

And the GMB (Surprada)
Name of the featured vocalists

Ghetto people, from the Refugee Gang
Describes the song's context, which involves street gangs and people from ghettos

Oh Maria, Maria
The singer addresses Maria

She reminds me of a West Side Story
Maria's demeanor and personality is similar to characters in the movie 'West Side Story'

Growing up in Spanish Harlem
Maria was raised in the Spanish section of Harlem, New York

She living the life just like a movie star
Maria's lifestyle mimics the glamour of a celebrity

She fell in love in East L.A.
Maria fell in love while visiting East L.A.

To the sounds of the guitar, yeah
Music played by a guitar served as the backdrop for Maria's love story

Played by Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana himself played the guitar

Stop the looting, stop the shooting
Appealing to stop robbery and violence

Pickpocketing on the corner
Stealing wallets and bags from people

See as the rich is getting richer
Drawing attention to the increasing wealth of people who are already prosperous

The poorer is getting poorer
Bringing to light the worsening financial condition of people who are not wealthy

See me and Maria on the corner
The singer sees himself and Maria standing on a street corner

Thinking of ways to make it better
Contemplating on how to improve their situation

In my mailbox there's an eviction letter
He received a notice of eviction

Somebody just said see you later
Someone parted ways with them

Ahora vengo mama chula, mama chula
Spanish phrase which translates to 'I will return, darling'

Mi cosa la esperanza
Spanish phrase that can translate to 'My hope is that'

I said a la flama los colores
Possible misinterpretation of Spanish phrase

The streets are getting hotter
The temperature outside is rising

There is no water to put out the fire
In the context of a riot, there is no way to subdue the violence

Hoping of days of paradise
Wishing for a better future

Now I come, mama chula, mama chula
Singer restates Spanish phrase from earlier

Puttin them up yo
Slang term which can mean to prepare for a fight

Jerry my dawg/Mr Santana/GMB
Acknowledging the people who collaborate on the song along with Carlos Santana

Yo Carlos, man you makin' that guitar cry
Admiring the quality of Carlos Santana's guitar playing