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| Subject: Deportees | |
Author: andy (Written by Woody Guthrie) | [ Next Thread |
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] Date Posted: 11:39:42 11/29/07 Thu Click Link for Audio http://www.supload.com/listen?s=326AAT08H5DS The New York Times of January 29, 1948 reported the wreck of a "charter plane carrying 28 Mexican farm workers from Oakland to the El Centro, CA, Deportation Center.... The crash occurred 20 miles west of Coalinga, 75 miles from Fresno." I got out my California map book, and found a Los Gatos Road and Los Gatos Creek northwest of Coalinga, near the Fresno/San Benito county line. That's one of the most desolate areas of California, and I'm sure it was even more desolate in 1948. In Summer, the hills there are brown and forbidding, and the heat oppressive. That's how I pictured the crash site. However, the crash took place in January, and in January those hills west of Coalinga are a beautiful green, splendid with wildflowers. Perhaps it is some slight consolation that these poor people died in a place of breathtaking beauty. May they rest in peace, and may we never forget them. Deportees The crops are all in and the peaches are rott'ning, The oranges piled in their creosote dumps2; They're flying 'em back to the Mexican border To pay all their money to wade back again CHORUS: Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye, Rosalita, Adios mis amigos, Jesus y Maria; You won't have your names when you ride the big airplane, All they will call you will be "deportees" My father's own father, he waded that river, They took all the money he made in his life; My brothers and sisters come working the fruit trees, And they rode the truck till they took down and died. Some of us are illegal, and some are not wanted, Our work contract's out and we have to move on; Six hundred miles to that Mexican border, They chase us like outlaws, like rustlers, like thieves. We died in your hills, we died in your deserts, We died in your valleys and died on your plains. We died 'neath your trees and we died in your bushes, Both sides of the river, we died just the same. The sky plane caught fire over Los Gatos Canyon, A fireball of lightning, and shook all our hills, Who are all these friends, all scattered like dry leaves? The radio says, "They are just deportees" Is this the best way we can grow our big orchards? Is this the best way we can grow our good fruit? To fall like dry leaves to rot on my topsoil And be called by no name except "deportees"? [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| [> Subject: Re: Deportees | |
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Author: Tammy [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 14:19:27 11/29/07 Thu (((Andyman))) I'm at my friends, and her computer let me hear the audio..((Yaayyy!)) I have to tell you, listening to this, rather than just reading the lyrics gave me a wonderful feeling inside. I am always so grateful for your talents, and love listening to you sing with heart and soul, much like you write...much like the man I've come to know. Great stuff here Andyman! I love it! Lots of love, Tammy [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |
| [> [> Subject: Re: Deportees | |
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Author: andy [ Edit | View ] |
Date Posted: 15:34:33 11/29/07 Thu thanks tam, I'm going to loud this page up because for years I blow hard drives and lose cd's and never have a place where i have some songs anchored. anyway, appreciate you listening and commenting. catch me later on yahoo if you can. zooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmm [ Post a Reply to This Message ] |