Santeria Lyrics

Lyric discussion by osuturfman 

Cover art for Santeria lyrics by Sublime

To all of those who say this song is about Brad's son I wholeheartedly agree. The whole song builds on itself digging deeper and deeper into Brad's problem

I don't practice Santeria I ain't got no crystal ball

He is saying he never could have predicted what happened to him and also the uncertainty that is his future.

Well I had a million dollars but I, I'd spend it all

On drugs presumably.

If I could find that heina and that Sancho that she'd found Well I'd pop a cap in sancho and I'd slap her down

The heina or girlfriend is him (or his mind) and Sancho is the drugs. He's trying but, deep down inside there is this part of his pysche that wants to cheat and do drugs.

What I really wanna know (my baby) What I really wanna say, I can't define Well it's love that I neeeeeed My soul will have to

"My baby" directly refers to his son Jake. This is it, this is the wake up call he despartely needs to get his life on track.

Wait till I get back Find a heina of my own Daddy's gonna love one and all

His new heina will be Jake. His son will be his motivation not to cheat and do drugs.

I feel the break, feel the break, feel the break And I gotta live it out Oh yeah un-huh Well I swear that I

The break is the personal divide the drugs are creating between him and those important to him. He is saying he can and will overcome the addiction for the good of himself and everyone around him.

What I really wanna know (my baby) What I really wanna say, I can't define Got love! Make it go My soul will have to...

Chorus but here he cites love (of Jake) as his driving force to overcoming addiction.

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 going up

Adds that he can and will do this.

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 something for his punk-ass

This verse just shows the angst he has towards addiction when he is sober.

What I really wanna know (my baby) What I really wanna say, is there's just one way back And I'll make it My soul will have to wait

This is where I mean he builds upon each chorus through the song. He ends up saying that the only way to be complete is to kick the drugs and love his son.

Honestly, this is one of the most metaphorical songs I have ever heard. At the same time it also one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard. You can literally hear the emoition in Brad's voice as he sings the song. He not only WANTS this , he NEEDS this. This isn't some bullshit song about a girlfriend cheating on her boyfriend; it's much deeper than that. This is about a father cheating on his kid with drugs. Trouble is when he is sober he knows its cheating in the worst way and I believe that is how this song was written. The is a lot of pain and sadness in this song but, at the same time there is also a tremendous amount of hope. Hope that he can overcome his own demons and just love his son. Sad that is was not to be.

Wow, I absolutely love this. =D I always saw it differently, but I like your version better. "This is about a father cheating on his kid with drugs". It's true, there are too many songs about bf/gf cheating. This kind of cheating is just so sad for both parties involoved. =(

Very interesting. Thanks for your take on the song.

Why does this interpretation have so many likes? Bradley didn't promise to stop doing heroin. He kept doing it, and it killed him before this song even came out.