DJ Allyn – The Soundtrack for my Life

Santeria ~ Sublime  

Sublime was an American ska-punk band that originated in Long Beach, California. Sublime consisted of three members: Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Bud Gaugh (drums), and Eric Wilson (bass guitar). Former members include Joe Gomez (drums) and Michael Happoldt for a very short time (guitar). The band achieved major mainstream success with their self-titled third album; however, Nowell died of a heroin overdose in his hotel room on the west side of San Francisco shortly before it was released, resulting in the band’s split in 1996.

Santeria

Santeria is a song on Sublime’s third album. The song evolved out of a short instrumental on Robbin’ the Hood called “Lincoln Highway Dub,” which contained the song’s eventual bassline and a pre-rhythm guitar riff. Other than the opening line, “I don’t practice Santeria,” the song has little to do with the Caribbean religion. Rather, the song is a narrative of a jealous ex-boyfriend attempting to reclaim his girlfriend from a man he refers to as “Sancho.” In Mexico, a man who steals another man’s girlfriend (“heina”) or wife is often referred to as “el Sancho,” which may be why the name “Sancho” was chosen as the antagonist in this Sublime song.

A music video was filmed in 1997 after the death of lead singer Bradley Nowell, who makes a cameo via stock footage. The video was a visualization of the story told in the song in the form of a Western, and featured Tom Lister, Jr. as Sancho.

I don’t practice santeria
I aint got no crystal ball.
Well, I had a million dollars but I
I’d spend it all,
If I could find that heina and that sancho that she’s found,
well I’d pop a cap in sancho and I’d slap her down.

What I really wanna know,
my baby, what I really want to say I can’t define.
Well it’s love,
that I need, oh ,
but my soul will have to,
wait till I get back find heina of my own.
Daddy’s gonna love one and all.

I feel the break,
feel the break,
feel the break and I got live it out,
oh, yea huh, well I swear that I.
What I really wanna know, my baby,
what I really want to say I can’t define.
fuck love make it go,
my soul will have to…

ohhh What I really wanna say,
my baby,
What I really wanna say is I’ve got mine.
and I’ll make it, Yes, I’m comin’ up.

Tell sanchito that if he knows what is good for him he best go run and hide.
Daddy’s got a new .45.
and I won’t think twice to stick that barrel straight down sancho’s throat.
Believe me when I say that I got somethin for his punk ass.
What I really wanna know, my baby,
oh what I really wanna say is there’s just one,
way back,
and I’ll make it, yea,
but my soul will have to wait.
yea, yea, yea

Audio from 1996 Sublime album:

Other Songs Posted for this Artist

• April 11, 2008 -- What I got ~ Sublime