The Ballad of Rubén Jaramillo

Lyrics

[Intro] You know, it's not often I, um Get songs out of the country But here's one that I did, it's, um, about Mexico Tells the story of a man named Ruben Jaramillo Who was the Mexican peasant leader He was fighting for land reform for some twenty years Uh, as a boy, he had written under Zapata, and, um He was, uh, fighting for the land reform that was, uh Guaranteed under the constitution after the Mexican Revolution Which never really came about Uh, he was killed about six, seven months ago by p— By membеrs of the army who, um They killed him and his wifе and his three sons After he lead, um About about two thousand peasants on a march to land that was legally theirs It's what's known as "squatters" now in the newspapers [Verse 1] The peons of Mexico long have known suffering and pain Zapata and Villa have died there, fighting in vain Then Jaramillo kept up the tradition He fought for the land once again But for all his good deeds, the brave Jaramillo was slain [Chorus] .45 bullet has ended the life Of a man who had lived by the gun But all of the bullets of Mexico Cannot undo all the work that he's done [Verse 2] The greedy caciques have stolen and plundered the land With pistoleros, they ruled with a cold iron hand The poor campesinos could stand it no longer Resistance was starting to grow Jaramillo decided to fight for a new Mexico [Chorus] .45 bullet has ended the life Of a man who had lived by the gun But all of the bullets of Mexico Cannot undo all the work that he's done [Verse 3] For twenty long years, he fought and he struggled and tried Epifania, his wife, always there at his side Often surrounded, he always was hounded They searched for him near, far, and wide A man of deep sorrow, but also a man of deep pride [Chorus] .45 bullet has ended the life Of a man who had lived by the gun But all of the bullets of Mexico Cannot undo all the work that he's done [Verse 4] Two thousand peasants he led to their long-promised land And the army's revenge killed the wife and the sons and the man The assassins rejoiced with their whiskey and women But the laughter will freeze on their face For each one they kill, a dozen will stand in his place [Chorus] .45 bullet has ended the life Of a man who had lived by the gun But all of the bullets of Mexico Cannot undo all the work that he's done [Outro] All of the bullets of Mexico Cannot undo all the work that he's done