Story Behind The Song
The song was written originally as the music behind a video and documentary that support a humane approach to immigration reform. It was based in my book, Immokalee's Fields of Hope, the story of the farm worker immigrants in Immokalee, Florida. The song is also available in Spanish, a beautiful translation done by Silvia Casabianca.
Song Description
Take These Hands takes the listener through the struggles of poor people south of our borders, and shows why so many of them want to come to the United States. The second verse tells how they feel when they get here. The overall message is that most of the farm worker immigrants just want to work, and they are grateful to be here. Even though they work long, hard days, their children can go to school and have a future.
| Song Length |
5:58 |
Genre |
Folk - General, Folk - Contemporary |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Moving, Tranquil |
Subject |
Hope, Worry |
| Similar Artists |
Alison Krauss, Sarah Mclachlan |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
O o o o o o oo
O o ooooooo ooo
O o o o o o o ooo
O o Oooo oooo
CHORUS:
Take these hands
Take These hands
Children of the sun, we are one
VERSE 1:
People suffering, struggling
In the dark I listen to them cry
Poor side of the river, desert, or sea,
Born on the poor side of the line
Little one, my little child,
You are four years old.
Tiny hands will soon be working
All my dreams are cold.
CHORUS:
Take these hands
Take These hands
Children of the sun, we are one
VERSE 2:
What will I remember?
The heat the dirt, --- the color of the sky
House is so poor, there's nothing for our meals
The heat the dirt, we barely survive
There's a lady, with a lamp,
Will she welcome us?
We are poor, but we'll work hard,
Will she welcome us?
CHORUS:
Take these hands
Take These hands
Children of the sun, we are one
VERSE 3
I go dark in the morning,
Come home in the darkness of the night
Days in the fields are long, so long,
Sun burning down from the sky.
Little one, my little child
Thank our God above
You're safe, we are here,
Sleep well, my love.
FINAL CHORUS/CODA: Take these hands
Take These hands
Children of the sun, we are one.
Take these hands
Take These hands
Children of the sun, we are one.
Children of the sun........ we are one.
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