Get off the train And now I find myself In promise land Back home we lived in terror Lynching mobs No jobs we had I heard some rumors That up north A man could work if black Momma gave savings, blessings And then I just Packed my bags Me fui del pueblo Como ancestros Es nada nuevo (I left the village Like ancestors It's notthing new) Hay que ir pa'l norte Es el ritmo De la vida, pues (You have to go north It's the rhythm Of life, well) El dolar to' controla Dame fuerza Pa' mis pies (The dollar controls all Give me strength For my feet) Caminé por desiertos Y me encuentro Con gran sed (I walked through deserts And I find myself With great thirst) A generation pa**es Here we are In great distress A one room flat And a shared bathroom Where's the hope I had? A growing family Only job I've had Is as laundress The union at my
Husband's factory Just won't take him Limpio casas Cuido niños Y me pagan como que no vale (I clean houses Take care of children And they don't pay me what it's worth) Mi hombre lava platos También carros Mucho estres (My man washed plates And also cars Lots of stress) Vivimos en terror Que los dueños Nos deporten (We live in terror That the bosses Will deport us) Quedaran nuestros hijos Aqui nacieron No puede ser (Our children will stay behind They were born here It can't be) We have short memories And narrow hearts Why can't you see? The struggles others pa**ed Are coming back This century Le rezo a gran poderes Que todo Cambie (I pray to great powers That everything Changes) No hay mal que dure cien años Ni cuerpo Que lo resiste (There is no evil that can last 100 years Nor a body That can endure it)