Victor Jara Lyrics - Arlo Guthrie

words by Adrian Mitchell, music by Arlo Guthrie 

Victor Jara of Chile 

Lived like a shooting star 

He fought for the people of Chile 

With his songs and his guitar 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

Victor Jara was a peasant 

He worked from a few years old 

He sat upon his father's plow 

And watched the earth unfold 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

Now when the neighbors had a wedding 

Or one of their children died 

His mother sang all night for them 

With Victor by her side 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

He grew up to be a fighter 

Against the people's wrongs 

He listened to their grief and joy 

And turned them into songs 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

He sang about the copper miners 

And those who worked the land 

He sang about the factory workers 

And they knew he was their man 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

He campaigned for Allende 

Working night and day 

He sang "Take hold of your brothers hand 

You know the future begins today" 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

Then the generals seized Chile 

They arrested Victor then 

They caged him in a stadium 

With five-thousand frightened men 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

Victor stood in the stadium 

His voice was brave and strong 

And he sang for his fellow prisoners 

Till the guards cut short his song 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

They broke the bones in both his hands 

They beat his lovely head 

They tore him with electric shocks 

And after two long days of torture, they shot him dead 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

Now the generals they rule Chile 

And the British have their thanks 

For they rule with Hawker Hunters 

And they rule with Chieftain tanks 

His hands were gentle, his hands were strong 

Repeat first verse