Bracero Lyrics - Singles - Phil Ochs

Wade into the river, through the rippling shallow watter 

Steal across 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 farmer 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 fruit of yellow, break the flower from the berry 

Purple grapes will fill your belly, bracero 

Oh, welcome to California 

Where the friendly farmer will take care of you 

And the sun will bite your body, as the dust will draw you thirsty 

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 farmer 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 dollar 

And forget your crooked collar, bracero 

Oh, welcome to California 

Where the friendly farmer will take care of you 

And the local men are lazy, and they make too much of trouble 

Besides we'd have to pay the double, bracero 

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 farmer will take care of you