In 1998, the band Santana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Carlos Santana, José "Chepito" Areas, David Brown, Gregg Rolie, Mike Carabello, and Michael Shrieve The band has earned nine Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards, the latter all in 2000. Carlos Santana won a Grammy Award as a solo artist in 1988. The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the world's best-selling groups of all time. In 2013, Santana announced a reunion of the classic line-up for a new album, Santana IV, which was released in April 2016. They are tied for having the most won Grammy Awards in one night.
The Facts of Love
Santana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well you better start, better start looking out for me
'Cause there's a way that you can be minus one lover
Just keep making it hard deliberately
If you're gonna play with fire don't cry when you burn your fingers
I'm not going to be the fool that you get tired of
Someone's got to clean up their act before the show is over
It's been so long since we made magic together
But you never stopped taking real good care of yourself
There comes a time you see your face in the mirror
And something tells you the pain ain't good for your health no no
If you're gonna play with fire don't cry when you burn your fingers
I'm not going to be the fool that you get tired of
Someone's got to clean up their act before the show is over
Baby such are the facts of love, ooh
If you gonna play with fire don't cry when you burn your fingers
I'm not going to be the fool that you get tired of
Somebody's got to clean up their act before the show is over
Baby such are the facts, the facts of love, the facts of love, the facts of love
In Santana's song "The Facts of Love," the lyrics speak to the difficulties of maintaining a healthy relationship. The opening line, "You know they say that one hand washes the other," suggests the idea of mutual give-and-take in a relationship, but then quickly turns to a warning for the other person to start looking out for the singer. The line, "Just keep making it hard deliberately," implies a deliberate attempt by the other person to make things difficult in the relationship. The singer then warns against playing with fire and risking getting burned, emphasizing that they will not be played for a fool.
The second verse hints at the idea that the relationship has been strained for some time, that it has been too long since the two have "made magic together." The line, "But you never stopped taking real good care of yourself," suggests that the other person has been more focused on their own needs and wellbeing rather than prioritizing the relationship. The singer then provides a warning that the pain of the troubled relationship is not good for anyone's health.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Facts of Love" speak to the difficulties of maintaining a healthy, mutually beneficial relationship, while also highlighting the importance of taking care of oneself and not allowing oneself to be taken advantage of or used as a tool by the other person.
Line by Line Meaning
You know they say that one hand washes the other
You understand that you should help others in exchange for their help
Well you better start, better start looking out for me
You need to start taking care of me and not just yourself
'Cause there's a way that you can be minus one lover
If you continue to mistreat me, you could end up alone without a lover
Just keep making it hard deliberately
You are purposely making things difficult between us
If you're gonna play with fire don't cry when you burn your fingers
If you engage in risky behavior, do not be surprised when you suffer the consequences
I'm not going to be the fool that you get tired of
I refuse to keep putting up with your mistreatment
Someone's got to clean up their act before the show is over
One of us needs to change their behavior before it's too late
Baby such are the facts of love
These are the harsh realities of being in a romantic relationship
It's been so long since we made magic together
It has been a while since we had a special connection
But you never stopped taking real good care of yourself
You have always made sure to prioritize your own well-being
There comes a time you see your face in the mirror
There will be a point where you will see the negative effects of your behavior on yourself
And something tells you the pain ain't good for your health no no
You will realize that the pain of our relationship is not beneficial for your physical or emotional health
Somebody's got to clean up their act before the show is over
One of us needs to make a change to salvage our relationship
Baby such are the facts, the facts of love, the facts of love, the facts of love
These are the undeniable realities of being in a romantic relationship, repeated for emphasis
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN POTTER, DENNIS LAMBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Maheu
One of the best albums of all time in my mind. A hidden gem in the Santana collection.
AJ Hill
Indeed, Greg Walker made a smooth, dynamic and soulful change, gave Alex ligertwood a deserved break, for once!
steve mcqueeney
I totally agree with you!
I heard this song for the first time back in 1978 and have listened to it at least a couple of times a month ever since and I've turned as many people as possible onto it throughout the years.
It's got THE BEST INSTRUMENTALS OF ALL TIMES, in my humble opinion.
KeepOnKeepin'On Rockin'! Im happy to know that others appreciate this gem of a song as much as I have and still do. What a timeless peice of art!
billy bynorth
Mike Maheu I agree
Wicca Slick
Agreed Mike
billy bynorth
This whole album is a masterpiece .ive been listening to it since it came out. 1978 in south africa
Rick h
I've always been a hard rock and metal fan and wouldn't normally listen to 'softer' music like Santana, but i discovered this album by accident (when it first came out in 1978) as somebody played "open Invitation" at a venue i went to. The guitar work is fantastic and i've still got the original LP that i bought all those years ago. A classic album and every Rock Fan should listen to it. Thanks for posting.
1988ziggy
One of the best albums of all time.A simplistic musical & emotional rollercoaster,a definite one that can be listened to from start to finish whilst relaxing in the sun with some liqour
Meli Smith
One of my favorites and it never gets old....love Santana💕.
AJ Hill
Love it so much never get sick of it