Song Description
Countless people have suffered or lost their lives fleeing the oppression of terrible political and economic conditions only to find they are not welcome elsewhere.
| Song Length |
4:03 |
Genre |
Folk - Contemporary, Latin - General |
| Tempo |
Non 4/4 |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Troubled, Poignant |
Subject |
Violence, Danger |
| Similar Artists |
Willie Nelson, James Taylor |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
They were running
On a night time north bound bus out of Guatemala.
They were hiding
Pretending to be other than they were
A Mayan boy and his sister afraid for their lives.
They were leaving
Green terraced hillsides, family pride.
Too many guns, too much greed, too much grief.
El Norte, El Norte could it be we could be free?
El Norte, El Norte could it be we could be free?
La la la la la la
Ariving
In the daytime desert dust of California.
They were aliens
Pretending to be other than they were
A Mayan boy and his sister afraid for their lives.
God help us. We need all the help we can get.
It's so cold and gray we can't see our way.
El Norte, El Norte could it be we could be free?
El Norte, El Norte could it be we could be free?
La la la la la la