 By the Light of the Moon (1987) [ larger cover art ] |
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About the places he had been to
And the things that he had seen
A quiet voice is singing something to me
An age old song about the home of the brave
In this land here of the free
One time one night in America
A lady dressed in white with the man she loved
Standing along the side of their pickup truck
A shot rang out in the night
Just when everything seemed right
Another headline written down in America
The guy that lived next door in #305
Took the kids to the park and disappeared
About half past nine
Who will ever know
How much she loved them so
That dark night alone in America
A quiet voice is singing something to me
An age old song about the home of the brave
In this land here of the free
One time one night in America
Four small boys playing ball in a parking lot
A preacher, a teacher, and the other became a cop
A car skidded into the rain
Making the last little one a saint
One more light goes out in America
A young girl tosses a coin in the wishing well
She hopes for a heaven while for her
There's just this hell
She gave away her life
To become somebody's wife
Another wish unanswered in America
People having so much faith
Die too soon while all the rest come late
We write a song that no one sings
On a cold black stone
Where a lasting peace will finally bring
The sunlight plays upon my windowpane
I wake up to a world that's still the same
My father said to be strong
And that a good man could never do wrong
In a dream I had last night in America
A wise man was telling storie to me
About the places he had been to
And the things that he had seen
A quiet voice is singing something to me
An age old song about the home of the brave
In this land here of the free
One time one night in America
| kcar | Posted: Apr 23, 2013 - 00:51 whtahtefcuk wrote: Do we realize how rippin' that guitar opening is? The whole song just rolls along--one of the things I like best about C&W. But Cynaera was right--the lyrics are powerful. Worth checking out below. |
| Toke (Bournemouth UK) | Posted: Apr 07, 2013 - 12:53 Never cease to amaze me this band their reportoir appears to be endless , certainly grabbed me yet again,, |
| gjeeg (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Jan 18, 2013 - 19:27 Lost on you, dude. maximinimalist wrote: the best thing about this song is that it's now over. |
| gjeeg (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Jan 18, 2013 - 19:24 Love This! Hillbilly Rock meets zydeco meets Latin rock folk. Synthesis Genius. Why didn't I ever hear this BACK THEN!?!?!?! |
| whtahtefcuk (Flagstaff, AZ, USA) | Posted: Jan 03, 2013 - 09:16 Do we realize how rippin' that guitar opening is? |
| yanet (San Diego, CA) | Posted: Dec 18, 2012 - 10:54 just dancing to this one sunday night at the belly up tavern in solana beach california...must have been show # 130 or so for me, and every one is a joy filled evening. love you lobos! |
| gypsyman (just passing through....) | Posted: Dec 03, 2012 - 00:40 Cynaera wrote: I'm bumping this shamelessly, because READ THE LYRICS! Yeah, it's depressing, but there's hope, too. We all need to fight. Even if it's just to get up and have a cup of coffee in the morning. This song has kicked me into a realm of positivity. I have a new respect and love for Los Lobos. Good night, Cynaera. And goodbye. |
| gypsyman (just passing through....) | Posted: Dec 03, 2012 - 00:34 dwlangham wrote: Can this song really be 24 years old? How did that happen? 25 years now...blink of an eye....yes, its very good stuff too. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Jul 30, 2012 - 07:36 coyote620 wrote: His singing, for me, is painful to hear. Like the music though. I assume you mean "like" as a verb, not a preposition or conjunction. I guess his voice can bother some folks, but it doesn't bother me. Good song. |
| Blastcat900 | Posted: Mar 25, 2012 - 12:44 Dare you not to tap your toe ! |
| aflanigan (orbiting the satellite of love) | Posted: Dec 21, 2011 - 10:00 Great opening song from a great LP (yes, it's been around THAT long) |
| Neil66 ((stav) anger) | Posted: Dec 21, 2011 - 09:31 dwlangham wrote: Can this song really be 24 years old? How did that happen? Decades pass like the years used to... |
| Patrick (Columbia, MO (1920 miles E of Paradise, CA)) | Posted: Dec 05, 2011 - 03:32 These guys are just soooooooooooooo cool. Cyn, thanks for the lyrics. |
| Cynaera (Kenneth's Frequency) | Posted: Sep 01, 2011 - 13:59 I am going to spend money on this. As soon as my credit card payment posts. |
| dwlangham | Posted: Sep 01, 2011 - 13:53 Can this song really be 24 years old? How did that happen? |
| mike_chouinard | Posted: Sep 01, 2011 - 13:52 This whole album is an underrated gem. |
| olivertwist (Atlanta GA) | Posted: May 14, 2011 - 09:57 Gotta love Los Lobos. Their music always seems to elevate my mood. |
| kingart (Brooklyn NY) | Posted: Apr 28, 2011 - 14:13 Fabuloso! Must get this one on my Pod! |
| SuzG (at my desk) | Posted: Apr 28, 2011 - 14:09 Bittersweet. Beautiful. Bless you Bill. |
| steuss (So. Cal. by way of Austin) | Posted: Nov 06, 2010 - 08:11 Excellent song, whole album is great. Really paints a picture of what it is like growing up Hispanic in East LA, as current today as when the album was cut. |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Oct 05, 2010 - 18:10 Cynaera wrote: One Time, One Night (David Hidalgo/Louie Perez) A wise man was telling stories to me A quiet voice is singing something to me A lady dressed in white with the man she loved The guy that lived next door in #305 A quiet voice is singing something to me Four small boys playing ball in a parking lot A young girl tosses a coin in the wishing well People having so much faith The sunlight plays upon my windowpane A wise man was telling stories to me A quiet voice is singing something to me I'm bumping this shamelessly, because READ THE LYRICS! Yeah, it's depressing, but there's hope, too. We all need to fight. Even if it's just to get up and have a cup of coffee in the morning. This song has kicked me into a realm of positivity. I have a new respect and love for Los Lobos. |
| SanchoPancho (Santa Fe, NM) | Posted: Sep 03, 2010 - 17:55 TravelRat wrote: Gawd, Bill—what's up with all of the sad songs??    Who cares? Keep it up! |
| TravelRat (Siberia--really, in Siberia) | Posted: Jul 17, 2010 - 20:10 Gawd, Bill—what's up with all of the sad songs?? |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Jul 01, 2010 - 20:53 One Time, One Night (David Hidalgo/Louie Perez) A wise man was telling stories to me A quiet voice is singing something to me A lady dressed in white with the man she loved The guy that lived next door in #305 A quiet voice is singing something to me Four small boys playing ball in a parking lot A young girl tosses a coin in the wishing well People having so much faith The sunlight plays upon my windowpane A wise man was telling stories to me A quiet voice is singing something to me |
| bluedot (Long Beach, CA) | Posted: Jun 15, 2010 - 23:31 maximinimalist wrote: the best thing about this song is that it's now over. It's actually a great song, but you have to really listen to dig the lyrics and the overall subtlety. For me, it took about five times. |
| treatment_bound (Duluth to Madison) | Posted: Apr 29, 2010 - 08:09 cohifi wrote: Another Gem! Dave H. can really sing 'em... |
| dogpound (the island on which I belong) | Posted: Apr 13, 2010 - 10:10 maximinimalist wrote: the best thing about this song is that it's now over. I am looking forward to that |
| risk (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Apr 13, 2010 - 10:08 Not my favorite song by one of my favorite bands. |
| maximinimalist (Treasure Coast) | Posted: Mar 28, 2010 - 16:54 the best thing about this song is that it's now over. |
| cohifi (Denver) | Posted: Mar 12, 2010 - 19:31 Teko wrote: Los Lobos can do no wrong. Another Gem! |
| Teko (out there somewhere) | Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 06:26 Los Lobos can do no wrong. |
| scoote | Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 06:24 Please stop it  |
| Darkmatter (Back in Ye Olde Sweden) | Posted: Dec 08, 2009 - 11:00 Interesting to hear this song played back to back with "Cemetery Gates". Los Lobos and the Smiths, whowouldathunk?  |
| Bosami (Deep in the heart of nowhere) | Posted: Dec 08, 2009 - 10:57  YEAH! Great band. Great song. |
| jhorton | Posted: Nov 22, 2009 - 20:08 Blech! |
| bitbanger (Upper West Side) | Posted: Nov 07, 2009 - 17:47 zengentleman wrote: Yankees Suck! Dude, Yankee's rule. |
| musicfan101 (Charlotte, NC 28209) | Posted: Oct 06, 2009 - 12:58 I saw these guys perform at Tipitina's, New Orleans, 1987. They rocked the house! Hey Tug, where ya at in the Queen city? South CLT here.  tugandbuster wrote: sounds positively Zydeco ... and wonderful!!! |
| tugandbuster (Charlotte, NC) | Posted: Oct 06, 2009 - 12:44 sounds positively Zydeco ... and wonderful!!! |
| cochlear (Kauai, Hawaii) | Posted: Sep 20, 2009 - 20:43 kaybee wrote: I like this song in spite of the fact it sounds so country!  Funny, I never thought of it as country. As a matter of fact, just look at the album photo. Reminds me of a grade B horror flick poster. Yeeeowww!!! |
| sharkartist | Posted: Sep 05, 2009 - 16:47 Los Lobos are a national treasure, and I'm so proud to call 'em Homies. |
| Brooky (Upstate NY, where at all nothing makes sense) | Posted: Aug 20, 2009 - 08:56 I enjoy and endorse the thematic interpretations provided. |
| Tagish_girl (happily seeking hammock, HBG, SE) | Posted: Aug 05, 2009 - 04:04 Wow, 5 songs about America in a row.... I think we should have Trey Parker's "Team America, F&¤# Yeah!" next for a good giggle.... Team America, putting the F back in Freedom..... |
| raewah (Somewhere where the mountains meet the plains) | Posted: Aug 04, 2009 - 12:10 AGREED!!! zengentleman wrote: Yankees Suck! |
| macadavy (Cascadia's attic, eh?) | Posted: Jun 01, 2009 - 23:51 As with many songs, the lyrics really do matter with this song. Shame they can't be bothered to click on the 'Song Info (Song Meanings)' link above - their loss!  |
| glydev (Brooklyn, New York) | Posted: Mar 30, 2009 - 17:47 ScottFromWyoming wrote: About every fifth comment on this song says to go check the lyrics... there's something you might be missing. If you're not listening to the lyrics on this song - you are missing a lot. I bought this lp back in 1987, my first year of grad school, and hearing it brings back memories of late nights spent in my painting studio, this is one of the best..... |
| Tagish_girl (happily seeking hammock, Helsingborg, Sweden) | Posted: Feb 27, 2009 - 05:17 kaybee wrote: I like this song in spite of the fact it sounds so country! Yeah, it does sound country. That's not neccessarily a bad thing. Some country is mainstream, some traditional,some crossover, some rock, rockabilly, or bluegrass, and some downright painful. I enjoy country, but as in all things, I pick and choose from the smörgasbord that is available out there. It is nice that Bill throws in a bit of countryish stuff, now and then....just to keep us on our toes... |
| Misterfixit (Nashville) | Posted: Feb 27, 2009 - 05:13 kaybee wrote: I like this song in spite of the fact it sounds so country! Remember that Mexican Mariachi music started out as Country Music .. just from Mexican Country folks. Some of the translations of them might as well describe West Virginia coal mines. |
| kaybee (Lost in the Wilds of Toronto) | Posted: Feb 11, 2009 - 19:17 SuzenJueL wrote: sounds way too country for my ears, I think my head just cocked to the side...but it just wasn't as cute as when puppies do it..... Kiko and the Lavender Moon...amazing song. This song...just not doing it for me... I like this song in spite of the fact it sounds so country! |
| ScottFromWyoming (Powell) | Posted: Jan 26, 2009 - 15:18 SuzenJueL wrote: sounds way too country for my ears, I think my head just cocked to the side...but it just wasn't as cute as when puppies do it..... Kiko and the Lavender Moon...amazing song. This song...just not doing it for me... About every fifth comment on this song says to go check the lyrics... there's something you might be missing. |
| BoneRoller | Posted: Jan 26, 2009 - 15:16 Always remember the movie "Colors" when they cruise East LA at the beginning of the movie and play this tune |