If I Never Got To Tell You

Album: On Your Feet! (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Gloria Estefan wrote this emotional ballad with her daughter, Emily, for On Your Feet!, a Broadway musical about the Estefans' rise to fame. Prior to the 1990 bus crash that left her critically injured with a fractured spine, the singer hadn't spoken to her disapproving mother, Gloria Fajardo, for two years. The number finds Fajardo (Andrea Burns) standing at Estefan's (Ana Villifane) bedside, worrying her daughter might not survive.

    Estefan explained to the Chicago Tribune: "My mom had a lot of losses and I was her rock. She was very afraid of what could happen with me traipsing around town with a band. She became very adversarial and confrontational and you can only do so much of that in a musical. But you get the story. When I had my accident, my mom hadn't spoken to me in two years, because I had taken my sister on the road with me, which I did to protect my sister. ... These were the days before cell phones; it was easier to stay out of touch. So when I had that crash, the first thing my mother, who was teaching, saw go across the ticker on the TV that day was 'Gloria Estefan dead.' She fainted."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

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.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.