Song of the Week

Sublime released their self-titled album containing “Santeria” in 1996 which remains to this day their most popular release. With a combination of Bud Gaugh’s reggae infused drum rolls and Bradley James Nowell’s f*** all punk convictions, Sublime is the perfect example of ska expression. Other noted members of the band were bassist, Eric Wilson, and mascot, Lou Dog. Sadly, lead singer and guitar player Nowell died of a drug overdose before the albums release and was unable to witness its glory. Even over two decades later his legacy thrives through Sublime’s music. I chose “Santeria” for song of the week because despite its popularity and personally knowing the song for years, I realized I didn’t know what Santeria meant never mind that it’s Nowell spiraling about not getting the love of his dreams.

A gentle guitar riff breezes in giving no predetermination to the history about to be made in the next three minutes. The airy guitar riff picks up an edge from its incoming counterparts and jaggedly jumps right along with them. “I don’t practice Santeria, I ain’t got no crystal ball.” Santeria is a religious practice developed in Cuba, that is known for it’s devotees communication with their divine deities. These deities provide the religious devotees with protection, success, and wisdom. Nowell is willing to turn to the spiritual to find love whether it’s wishing on an angel or a deal with the devil.

The backing beat carries on with the hopping guitar groove. “If I could find that jaina and that Sancho that she’s found / Well, I’d pop a cap in Sancho and I’d slap her down.” Jaina and Sancho are both Mexican slang for a woman and then the other man in a relationship. Sancho’s literal translation is for a pig or hog which is justified. Sublime has themes of mistreatment from women in many of their songs and here is no different. The impression is that the heavenly forces Nowell wants to draw on are negative and cursing this adultering girlfriend and her other man.

His vengeful side is wrestling with his hope for the future. “What I really want to say, I can’t define / Well, it’s love that I need, oh / My soul will have to / Wait ’till I get back, find a jaina of my own.” Despite this last girl treating him like absolute garbage he still has hope for finding a jaina of his own. His soul is coming back from a resentful place and he knows he won’t be able to find a real woman till he returns from this cynicism. He has not processed this breakup at all and is already thinking about the next one as a coping mechanism. The lyrics perfectly express his tornado confusion and all the roads his thoughts are traveling simultaneously.

The guitar solo is taken from the song, “Lincoln Highway Dub” from Sublime’s album “Robbin’ the Hood.”

Nowell lets some of his melancholic feelings slip out in verse two. “Daddy’s gonna love one and all / I feel the break … and I got’ live it up.” Him referring to himself as Daddy proves he’s not feeling insecure or belittled by this girl cheater or the breakup. It’s also relevant that confidence can be a mask used to hide pain. He later describes a scene of himself murdering Sanchito with a handgun expressing this pain. “Daddy’s got a new .45 / And I won’t think twice to stick that barrel straight down / Sancho’s throat.” This is a man struggling with murderous rage, separation depression, and undying optimism all swirling around in his brain soup. He repeats throughout the song that his soul has to wait. He knows what he has to do it’s just going to suck. For now he is desperate enough to pray to some dietes he’s never met. This relatable piece reminds us of particularly acute situations where we have no control. Nowell reminds us that with any problem, time will set us free.