Phil Ochs - Bracero lyrics

Wade into the river

Through the rippling shallow watter

Steal accross the thirsty border

Bracero

Come bring your hungry bodies

To the golden fields of plenty

From a peso to a penny

Bracero

Oh, welcome to California

Where the friendly farmers

Will take care of you

Come labor for your mother

For your father and your brother

For your sisters and your lover

Bracero

Come pick the fruits of yellow

Break the flowers from the berries

Purple grapes will fill your bellies

Bracero

Oh, Welcome to California

Where the friendly farmers

Will take care of you

And the sun will bite your body

As the dust will draw you thristy

While your muscles beg for mercy

Bracero

In the shade of your sombrero

Drop your sweat upon the soil

Like the fruit your youth can spoil

Bracero

Oh, welcome to California

Where the friendly farmers

Will take care of you

When the weary night embraces

Sleep in shacks that could be cages

They will take it from your wages

Bracero

Come sing about tomorrow

With a jingle of the dollars

And forget your crooked collar

Bracero

Oh, welcome to California

Where the friendly farmers

Will take care of you

And the local men are lazy

And they make too much of trouble

Besides we'd have to pay them double

Bracero

Ah, but if you feel you're fallin'

If you find the pace is killing

There are others who are willing

Bracero

Oh, welcome to California

Where the friendly farmers

Will take care of you