Halffastcyclingclub and I have had conversations about Los Lobos. I’ve always liked what I heard but I never heard much of anything that was not on the radio. I came across this song when I was listening to various playlists I found. I’ve been listening to this album and will start on their debut album next.
Sometimes songs grow on me but this one I liked right off the bat. The guitar’s tone and the way they worked it into the song…it just melts into it. This song was released in 1984 as the title track of their major label debut album, How Will the Wolf Survive? The song played a significant role in defining the band’s identity and their fusion of rock, blues, and traditional Mexican music.
Los Lobos (Spanish for “The Wolves”) started in the early 1970s in East Los Angeles. High school friends David Hidalgo, Louie Pérez, Cesar Rosas, and Conrad Lozano started playing together. The guy who brought them together was Francisco González. He left the band before fame and became musical director of El Teatro Campesino and went on to start Guadalupe Custom Strings. They started off by playing top 40 music but soon tired of that. They drew inspiration from Mexican folk music they heard as kids. They didn’t fit into the typical rock band mold… instead, they experimented with acoustic instruments like the jarana, requinto, and bajo sexto.
They opened for such artists as The Clash and The Blasters. Steve Berlin, who was born in Philadelphia, played saxophone for the Blasters and then left the group to join Los Lobos. To his delight, he found the other members of Los Lobos shared a love for country artists such as Hank Williams and George Jones. The band mixed so many styles…Mexican folk music, country, and rock all in the same bag.
The song peaked at #26 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks Charts and #78 on the Billboard 100. The album peaked at #47 on the Billboard 100, #13 in New Zealand, #31 in Canada, and #77 in the UK in 1984.
There is a documentary about Los Lobos called Native Sons that is set to be released this year.
Will The Wolf Survive?
Through the chill of winterRunning across a frozen lakeHunters hard on his trailAll odds are against himWith a family to provide forBut one thing he must keep aliveWill the wolf survive?
Drifting by the roadsideClimbs a strong and aging faceWants to make some honest payLosing to the rainstormHe’s got two strong legs to guide himTwo strong arms keep him aliveWill the wolf survive?
Standing in the pouring rainAll alone in a world that’s changedRunning scared now forced to hideIn a land where he once stood with prideBut he’ll find his way by the morning light
Sounds across the nationComing from your hearts and mindsBattered drums and old guitarsSinging songs of passionIt’s the truth that they all look forSomething they must keep aliveWill the wolf survive?Will the wolf survive?
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