Lopez made his name on the club circuit of the Southwestern United States before being 'discovered' in 1962 playing at the club PJ's in Hollywood, California, by record producer Don Costa. Costa was taken with Lopez's latinized versions of contemporary hits and signed him up to Frank Sinatra's record label, Reprise Records. His debut album, Trini Lopez Live at PJ's, was released in 1963. The album included a version of If I Had a Hammer, which reached number one in 36 countries (No. 3 in the United States) and was a radio favorite for many years. He also performed his own version of the traditional Mexican song La Bamba on the album; his recording of the tune was later re-issued as a single in 1966.
His popularity led the Gibson Guitar Corporation to ask him in 1964 to design a guitar for them. He ended up designing two: The Trini Lopez Standard, a rock and roll model based on the Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow body, and the Lopez Deluxe, a variation of a Gibson jazz guitar designed by Barney Kessel. Both of these guitars were in production from 1964 until 1971 and are now highly sought after amongst collectors. Some owners of the guitar include Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.
He scored 13 chart singles through 1968, including "Lemon Tree" (1965), "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" (1966) and "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" (1968). On the adult contemporary chart, he ranked up 15 hits, including the Top 10 singles "Michael" (1964), "Gonna Get Along Without Ya' Now" (1967) and "The Bramble Bush" (1967). Beyond his success on record, he became one of the country's top nightclub performers of that era, regularly headlining in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During the 1960s and 1970s Lopez moved into acting, though his film career was not as successful as his music. His first film role was in Marriage on the Rocks (1965), in which he made a cameo appearance in a nightclub scene; Lopez's soundtrack song, "Sinner Man", became a hit single (No. 54 pop/No. 12 adult contemporary). He was one of The Dirty Dozen (1967) and starred in Antonio (1973). He made two appearances (playing different characters) on the television program, Adam 12. He continued his musical career with extensive tours of Europe and Latin America during this period; an attempt to break out by releasing a disco album in 1978 proved a flop.
Since then, Lopez has done charitable work and received honors such as being inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2003. He was still recording and appearing live in the early 2000s. Recently he took part in a benefit concert to raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
America
Trini Lopez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ok by me in america
Everything free in america
For a small fee in america
I like the city of san juan
I know a boat you can get on
Hundreds of flowers in full bloom
Automobile in america
Chromium steel in america
Wire spoke wheel in america
Very big deal in america
I'll drive a buick in san juan -
If there's a road you can drive on
I'll give my cousins a free ride -
How you fit all of them inside
Immigrant goes to america
Many helloes in america
Nobody knows in america
Puerto rico's in america
When I will go back to san juan -
When will you shut up and get gone
I'll give them new washing machine -
What have they got there to keep clean
I like the shores of america
Comfort is yours in america
Knobs on the doors in america
Wall to wall floors in america
I'll bring a TV to san juan -
If there's a current to turn on
Everyone there will give big cheer -
Everyone there will have moved here
Trini Lopez's song "America" is a celebration of the opportunities that America presents to immigrants, particularly those who come from Puerto Rico. The opening lines of "I like to be in America, okay by me in America" suggest a sense of contentment and satisfaction with being in America. The following line, "Everything free in America, for a small fee in America" can be interpreted as a recognition that there is a cost to being in America, but it is worth it for the sense of freedom and opportunity that it provides.
The second verse of the song describes the beauty of some of America's cities and the impressive technology in American automobiles. Trini Lopez sings about driving a Buick in San Juan, symbolizing the American Dream and the possibility of success and prosperity in the United States.
The third verse of the song addresses the issue of immigration and the difficulties faced by those who are new to America. The line "Nobody knows in America, Puerto Rico's in America" acknowledges that many Americans are unaware that Puerto Rico is a US territory. The final line of the verse, "When will you shut up and get gone" could be seen as a reflection of the negative attitudes towards immigrants that have existed in America throughout its history.
Overall, "America" is a song that celebrates the opportunities and freedoms found in the United States while also acknowledging the challenges faced by immigrants. The song also reflects on the issues of identity and sense of belonging that come with moving to a new country.
Line by Line Meaning
I like to be in america
I find pleasure being in America
Ok by me in america
It's no problem for me to be in America
Everything free in america
Most things are provided free in America
For a small fee in america
However, some things require a small payment or fee in America
I like the city of san juan
I enjoy San Juan city
I know a boat you can get on
I'm aware of a boat you can board
Hundreds of flowers in full bloom
Many flowers are blooming
Hundreds of people in each room
Many individuals are accommodated in every room
Automobile in america
Cars are manufactured in America
Chromium steel in america
Chromium steel is utilized while creating items in America
Wire spoke wheel in america
Wire spoke wheels are available in America
Very big deal in america
This is a significant deal in America
I'll drive a buick in san juan -
I will drive a Buick when in San Juan
If there's a road you can drive on
Provided there is a road to drive on
I'll give my cousins a free ride -
I will offer my cousins a free ride
How you fit all of them inside
I'm unsure how they'll all fit inside
Immigrant goes to america
An immigrant travels to America
Many helloes in america
Many greetings are given in America
Nobody knows in america
No one knows in America
Puerto rico's in america
Puerto Rico is included in America
When I will go back to san juan -
When I return to San Juan
When will you shut up and get gone
A retort to a potential speaker who might be obstructive, refusing to leave quickly or constantly speaking.
I'll give them new washing machine -
I will give them a new washing machine
What have they got there to keep clean
What do they have to clean in the first place?
I like the shores of america
I find the shores of America beautiful and enjoyable
Comfort is yours in america
One can enjoy comfort in America
Knobs on the doors in america
Doors in America are equipped with handles and knobs
Wall to wall floors in america
There are wall-to-wall floors in America
I'll bring a TV to san juan -
I will bring a TV to San Juan
If there's a current to turn on
Provided there's a current to turn it on
Everyone there will give big cheer -
Everyone will give a big cheer
Everyone there will have moved here
Everyone will have relocated to America
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CTM Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jorge díaz
No hay tiempo, lugar ni espacio para la música, ésta es inmemorial, la época de Trini López sigue siendo una de las mejores de México. Felicito a Kanal von The Tumtrah, desde la mitad del mundo "Quito".
fourkero 1
Hermosa música de mi infancia, solo lagrimas de alegría caen por mis mejillas con tan fabulosa melodía. Gracias desde Chile por haberme echo tan feliz con tus canciones Trini López.
Fernando Brito
Quando eu era criança (tinha 11-12 anos) só ia para a escola depois de ouvir esta música. Grande abraço e saudações do Brasil às irmãs e irmãos do Chile! Deus abençoe todos vocês!
Reijane Paixão
Ainda é uma maravilha ouvir o Trini, pois a gente viaja de volta à juventude e torna a sonhar com tempos que jamais virão.
R Ramos
Are you kidding , I never seen anybody so happy to be singing. Extremely good singer & guitarist, his back up group, almost as good.
Diego Castanho LSH
Vá em paz, Trini Lopez!
After Late
Such a musical voice and makes singing appear effortless. RIP Trini Lopez.....
Antero Juvasmaa
Ola
Helen Murphy
HE DIED OH WOW LOVED HIS MUSIC TOO
Debra it
@Antero Juvasmaa[