Flores y Tamales

Album: The Thread That Keeps Us (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is sung entirely in Spanish and the title translates into English as "Flowers and Tamales." (The latter is a traditional Mexican dish).
  • "Flores y Tamales" features Jairo Zavala, Calexico's touring bouzouki player on lead vocals. Joey Burns told UK newspaper The Sun: "I had an instrumental cumbia (courtship dance) song recorded and Jairo suggested he tried singing his lyrics over the track. When he sang, it felt like it was instantly a classic."
  • Burns explained Zavala's lyrical content: "He writes a story about someone who has passed away and not being able to reconcile letting go. The ghost tries talking with their loved one and imagines all the things they could have done together."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

James Williamson of Iggy & the Stooges

James Williamson of Iggy & the StoogesSongwriter Interviews

The Stooges guitarist (and producer of the Kill City album) talks about those early recordings and what really happened with David Bowie.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Maxi Priest

Maxi PriestSongwriter Interviews

The British reggae legend tells the story of his #1 hit "Close To You," talks about his groundbreaking Shabba Ranks collaboration "Housecall," and discusses his latest project with Robin Trower.

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.