Put Your Lights On (featuring Everlast)

Zoo Freaks, get ready to vibe with some cosmic trivia about "Put Your Lights On (featuring Everlast)" from Santana's legendary Supernatural album, spinning now on THE ZOO! This track, a gritty blend of rock and spiritual lyricism, was born from a deeply personal place. Everlast, the rapper and singer-songwriter behind the song’s vocals and acoustic guitar, wrote it while recovering from a near-fatal heart attack in February 1998, right after finishing his solo album Whitey Ford Sings the Blues. He called it one of his most personal songs, telling Songfacts it’s “all about hope, but it’s coming from a really dark place.” The lyrics, with their mix of rapped and sung verses, reflect on death and survival, urging sinners, lovers, and killers alike to “put your lights on.” Everlast even hesitated to include an Arabic-language portion, wary of commercializing sacred words, but Carlos Santana insisted it stay, adding a mystic layer to the track, as noted in a Wikipedia entry.

The song’s creation was a serendipitous collaboration. In 1998, Santana, guided by music mogul Clive Davis, reached out to Everlast for a contribution to Supernatural. Everlast pitched “Put Your Lights On,” and Santana was hooked, saying the process moved “very fast” from there, per an interview referenced on Ultimate Santana. Santana’s electric guitar riffs, kept in a tight melodic range, mirror the song’s raw emotion, complementing Everlast’s limited melody to amplify the lyrics’ weight. The track’s production, handled by Dante Ross and John Gamble, earned it a Grammy in 2000 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Though it didn’t match the chart dominance of “Smooth,” its chilling vibe has fans like Jen from Upstate New York, who shared on Songfacts that she played it on repeat to navigate snowy drives, finding its spiritual edge a perfect match for intense moments.

Now, let’s rewind to how Carlos Santana, the heart of Santana, got his start. Born in Autlán de Navarro, Mexico, in 1947, Santana picked up the violin at age five but switched to guitar by eight, drawn to the bluesy sounds of T-Bone Walker and B.B. King, as detailed in his Britannica bio. Growing up in Tijuana, he played in local bands, soaking up norteño and rock influences. After his family moved to San Francisco in the 1960s, Santana formed the Santana Blues Band in 1966, catching the eye of promoter Bill Graham. Their electrifying performance of “Soul Sacrifice” at Woodstock in 1969 catapulted them to fame, with their debut album Santana becoming a hit. Over decades, Santana’s sound evolved, blending rock, jazz, blues, and Afro-Cuban rhythms, always anchored by his soulful guitar. His spiritual journey, from following guru Sri Chinmoy to embracing Christianity in 1992, shaped his music’s hopeful, healing vibe, culminating in the massive comeback of Supernatural in 1999.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Santana’s cosmic journey through his official channels. Check out his latest tour dates and merch at www.santana.com. Follow his updates on Facebook, where he shares news about albums like Sentient, and vibe with his visual posts on Instagram. On X, Santana drops thoughts and show announcements for his loyal fans. For deeper dives, join the community at fan sites like Ultimate Santana, which breaks down his discography, or connect with fellow freaks in the Santana Fans Facebook group, where devotees swap stories and rare tracks. Keep those lights on, Zoo Crew, and let Santana’s grooves carry you higher!