father says head down
we don’t want them finding you
mother says practice now
all the words you know
oh Arizona’s burning
they say the fence turned round
now the razor wire keeps us out
mother says with luck
we’ll sleep under a roof tonight
father says in the truck
we’ll be crushed in tight
oh Chicago don’t forget me
as the miles between us grow
keep the maple tree carved
with the name of my love
the hills we would sled race down
Lake Michigan stay endless and painted in sky
goodbye
Mother says years ago
the whole world was ours to rule
father says let it go
those days are gone for good
all the signs read no gringo
but somehow we’ll find our way
maybe waiting at dawn by the factory doors
sunburnt and bent in the fields
please don’t turn us in
we’ll be silent as the grave
as time
no gringo
no Gringo aquí
words as levies against the flood
hoy cerrado
there’s too many to feed
room for only our own kind, our own blood
no gringo,
no gringo aquí
you have stayed in this land for too long
tan amargo
but there’s no time to grieve
you just pack up your things and move on