Bracero Lyrics - Singles - Ochs Phil

Phil Ochs 

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