word weapons
Harder than a Hurricane
Pedro came from Porto Rico
calle luna, calle sol
Lloren Torres caserios
Wars a story never told
daddy tried but died a cancer
mama trauma gone of AIDS
no vieques second chances
Castaway amor de rey
make it rain
strike a vein
chase the fame
or just go insane
make it plain
bring the pain
claim ya stain
we be harder than a hurricane
Latin Lord of Fort Apache
pistol Pete of Simpson street
si la jara try ta gas me
no retreat and no defeat
lootin’ loosies you’se a nuisance
brother smothered in the fray
Huey Newton shootin’ uzis
suckas duck or fuckin’ pray
make it rain
sell cocaine
play the game
or just go insane
make it plain
break the chain
say ya name
we be harder than a hurricane
A hard rain was falling
down upon my head
I saw my people brawling
over a crumb of stale bread
i heard Saint Peter calling
to me from my deathbed
I seen a newborn bawling
and I spit out my meds instead
seven-seven in a prison
came of age inside a cage
wrote a note by homing pigeon
from a slave sent to the grave
it said...
to the mourners from the foreigner
and to God if she exist
trigga niggas on the corna
fight the power and resist!
Ain’t no storm could ever stop us!
neither spain nor hurricane!
see the papas y las guapas!
salsa dancing in the rain!...
Make it plain
hit a vein
break the chain
hide ya stain
got no shame
or ya’ll go insane
make it rain
man o mane!
sell cocaine
so much pain
say ya name
nothin’ ta gain!
or just go insane
salsa dance in the rain
agua que va caer!
que va caer ya tu va ver
agua que va caer!
un enfriado puedo coger
agua que va caer!
yo vi a todos mi gente correr
agua que va caer!
mira que el cielo se esta nublando
agua que va caer!
lágrimas se va bajando
agua que va caer!
sufrimiento se ve caminando
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon pa todo borikua
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon con todo la fuerza
agua que va caer!
¡aguita bombón para Zarabanda!
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon pa’ dar ellegua
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon pa’ dar Oya
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon para mama wanga
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon para mama Chola
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon para dar Yemaya
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon para madre Agua
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon para dar Obatala
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon para oduduwa
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon para dar a Oba
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon para dar Yemoja
agua que va caer!
aguita bombon para mama africa
No Soy de Aqui
Jesus flew on Jet Blue up to New York
heaven bound got down and kissed the ground
devil bass and treble got a pitchfork
chased ‘em ‘round the browner side a town
nitty gritty sanctuary city
worlds apart statistic on a chart
walter Mitty welcoming committee
beck and call a wallmart for a heart
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
esta vida nos acerca a la verdad
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
adios goodbye y no me diga na'..
Julia was a bruja outta Cuba
commie mami in the promised land
tierra pura tirando basura
sun and sand to livin’ mouth to hand
cuddled up wit all dem huddled masses
wretched screaming by your teeming shore
light their asses fascist book of matches
civil war the poor outside the door
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
esta moda no se sabe donde va
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
adios goodbye y no me joda ma'...
Jose can you see
this free land's not for me
the last refugee
deportee by decree
a brick in the wall
or a bigger strip mall
the rise and the fall
and the last curtain call my name.....
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
A mal tiempo buena cara pero besos no son balas
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
esta mundo no es vaga el que la hace la paga
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
malcriado en el juego pero el amor es ciego
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
esta vida nos ahorcas coma federico garcia lorcas
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
Hazme la maleta mama yo me voy de Nueva Yor'
yo no soy de aqui
ni de alla
Yo me regreso a mi sesos el odio no es amor
no soy de aqui
ni de alla
mas mejor con gran calor adios en dolor mayor
yo no soy de aqui
ni de alla
Acelera que me voy, acelera que me voy hoy oi oi oi oi oi....
Our Latin Thang
Mambo bongo playin' in the street
Congo Chango swaying to the beat
like Cuban Pete ya jumpin' outta ya seat
but you ain't got no shoes on ya feet
Subway Joe was on the radio
Bailando Barretto o lavoe
a cop and blow until the end of the show
'cause you knows that a rose never grows
Chevere!
Listenin' ta sister Celia sang
chevere!
Sufferin's a deeper shade a swang
chevere!
Ching-a-ling from once when we were kang
chevere!
It was our latin thang
rumba cumbia cruising thru the night
bomba tumba rooster lose a fight
like socialites until they turn out the lights
or they read you ya Miranda Rights
bitches brew the latin bugalu
two plus two the rent is always due
this bird has flew y dicen quitate tu
because black is the new kinda blue
Chevere!
Listenin' ta sister Celia sang
chevere!
Sufferin's a deeper shade a swang
chevere!
Ching-a-ling from once when we were kang
chevere!
It was our latin thang
chevere!
Baila!
ay, mi pana, hermana
Baila!
En que no tiene gana
Baila!
En el gran sufrimiento
Baila!
Lagrimas en el viento
Baila!
Mi amigo companero
Baila!
y que no tenga miedo
Baila!
En estos tiempos peligrosos
Baila!
Todos los feos son hermosos
Baila!
Mongo songo jammin' on the one
samba bamba 'till the morning sun
maferefun on the wrong side of a gun
play ya drum 'till the slave catcher come
Hobo Bobo looking for a home
Colon’s trombone couldn’t get a loan
el rey is gone they found him prone on his throne
Y mataron el negro bembon
Chevere!
Listenin’ to sista celia sang
chevere!
Sufferin's a deeper shade a swang
chevere!
Ching-a-ling from once when we were kang
chevere!
Yo no se what manana will brang
Chevere
Ganar la loteria por fin
Chevere!
Sing for bling or a greasy chicken wang
Chevere!
After winter there is always sprang
chevere!
It was our Latin thang…
Chevere! (end on this)
Viva la Revolú!
Yo no soy El Che Guevara
Y no quiero a pelear
No me llamo Victor Jara
pero yo se a cantar
Sin un rifle y sin balas
Yo no soy el gran varon
A la buena o la mala
Solamente mi cancion
No dejes tu vida
en la cruz
Dios te bendiga
En la luz
Yo soy boricua
How ‘bout you?
Diga que viva
La revolu!
No soy Maros en Chiapas
O Fidel en la moncada
solo toco mi guitarra
Es mi salsa intifada
Yo no lanzo cochebombas
No soy Simon Bol
Vacilando en la sombra
Lo que quiero es bailar
No dejes tu vida
en la cruz
Dios te bendiga
En la luz
somos boricua
Yo y tu?
Diga que viva La revolu!
Diga que viva la revolu!
Diga que viva la revolu!
Diga que viva la revolu!
Diga que viva la revolu!
Traigo una cancion para Lolita Lebron, lai, le lo lai
No tengo pistola, pero tengo trombone
No soy Chairman Gonzalo pero hago trabajo, carajo!
Y yo traigo mi bajo para los de abajo
Oye bien mi negrito, musica calantito,
ni Albizu ni el grito, soy el viento del pito
Con tambor y maraca soy la salsa que salva
y cuando la guerra se acaba yo voy buscando guayaba
Diga que viva la revolu!
Diga que viva la revolu!
Diga que viva la revolu!
Diga que viva la revolu!
All The Arms We Need
Out!... side a war is ragin’
ain’t no shelter from the storm
The times they are a-changin’
And the battle lines been drawn
the saviors rattle sabres
killing cattle by the score
and chattel’s trapped in cages
master locks upon every door
The dead we steady grievin’
departed hearts still gon’ bleed
But i keep on believin’
that we are all the arms we’ll ever need…
we sow the seed
a rose is better than a weed
we pray and we plead
too Jesus!... but we can barely breathe…
There’s brothers bangin’ brother’s
Others hanging from a noose
And bridges is built for jumpers
suckas never will call a truce
the faceless race is rolling
bastard breed conceived in greed
so po po is still patrolling
calvary to the, uh, poplar tree
the blanket’s was laced with smallpox
General Lee on to, huh, Tuskegee
it’s three years here if you throw rocks
but we be all the arms that we will ever need
the lord shouted down from above
and ordered when push comes to shove
you’re either a hawk or a dove
but I would rather be a soldier of love?
of love!……
true love is ever dying
In the ground by sounding sea
And worse the earth is crying
knocked her down on her one wounded knee
But lovers will still be lovin’
All agree it is guaranteed
‘cause when nuthin’ just leaves you nuthin’
We will be all the arms that we’ll ever need…
we sow the seed
a spanish rose or just a vanished weed
we’re millions to feed
but we got all the arms that we’ll ever need
say it again, yall... we are all the arms that we’ll ever need
si we be all the arms….
until we is…..
freed….
Strictly Street n Subway
Doesn't matter where ya come from
If ya don't know where ya been
but when they ain't no chase to run from
that's the place where you begin
I was born torn from the gutter
battle cry ready to die
bread and butter was my mother’s
inner-city lullaby
but I'm strictly street and subway
BMT to IRT
I said I'm strictly street and subway
DOB to R.I.P.
Makes no difference where ya livin'
in this game the shames the same
Unforgiven in a prison
stake ya claim though maimed or lame
I was raised inside these tunnels
caught beneath its grinding teeth
blackboard jumble third rail stumble
thug or thief Indian chief
but I'm strictly street and subway
IND to IRT
I said I'm strictly street and subway
DOB to R.I.P.
My name I flame on this train
a dangerous game the cost a lost fame
slum tumbles down in the tunnels
rebels and rubble gavels and shovels
scrawled scriptures history in pictures
mythical mixtures magic elixirs
sprayed subways underworld ballets
sub-terrain swordplay b-boys on broadway
write night how bright I ignite
take flight in black light despite the white flight
in trenches with monkey wrenches
barbed-wire fences expensive defenses
click clack a pack on my back
hijack on the track attack on what's whack
uptown get up or get down
the peoples playground a king with no crown....
nothin' pleasant 'bout the present
livin's fast blast from the past
rent a tent a ten cent peasant
built to last like broken glass
fade to black in New Jack City
live and die in neon sky
ghetto gangsters and graffiti
amplify my alibi....
crucified inside a sewer
my abode this heavy load
seems my dreams was none or fewer
trod on godforsaken road...
but I'm strictly street and subway
IRT to BMT
I said I'm strictly street and subway
EMT to R.I.P.
Yes I'm strictly street and subway
BMT to IND
you know I'm strictly street and subway
END to END
It's like a jungle sometimes it make me wonder how I keep from going under
It's like a jungle sometimes it make me wonder how I keep from going under
It's like a jungle sometimes it make me wonder how I keep from going under... ground!
In the jungle brother
set me free!
In the jungle brother
let me be!
In the jungle brother
can't you see?
In the jungle brother
I gots to be me!
In the jungle brother
home sweet home!
In the jungle brother
where I roam!
In the jungle brother
danger zone!
In the jungle brother
so welcome to the terrordome!
Bronx is Burning
One, two,
Uno, dos, tres, cuatro
Bronx is burning
In the summer heat
higher learning
on every ghetto Street
Moshulu
is goin’ up in smoke
de ja vu
uptown is gettin’ woke
Strike a match
and pass the gasoline
record scratch
808 drum machine
Fordham Road’s
A raisin in the sun
Lock and load
The party’s just begun
send a message thru the wire
gonna set this game on fire
see the flames is gettin’ higher
Bronx is burning
Syrup sweet
tables turning
back to a Latin beat
gettin’ lit
on bruckner blvd
it is writ
on memories burnt and charred
light the fuse
or toss the molotav
pay ya dues
or face the fiery mob
fireworks
ashtray on pelham bay
DJ Herc
And love will light the way
send a message thru the wire
gonna set this game on fire
see the flames is gettin’ higher and higher and higher
fuego!, fuego!
Los yanquis qeuren fuego!
Fuego!, fuego!
Sordo, mudo o ciego!
Fuego!, fuego!
La lucha no es juego!
Fuego!, fuego!
La revolú ya llego!
what happens to a word deferred
a sin to kill a mockingbird
as children build on edenwald
preparing for the rise and fall
and riders hide inside the flames
of inner-city hunger games
with firefights on morris heights
they roam the days we own the nights
a coup on Sedgwick avenue
for Anthony and Amadou!
ain’t no peace for the police force
the people seize the grand concourse
a stones thrown in crotona park
wait until dark to light the spark
and fiddle as the city burns
it’s the Hunts Point of no return
SOUTH BRONX, THE SOUTH SOUTH BRONX!
Candela!
The Phoenix rises from the fire
Candela!
With matches and a burning tire
Candela!
Anima sola in the flame
Candela!
and soul linked in a human chain
Candela!
Elijah called the fire from heaven
Candela!
the torch is lit seven eleven
Candela!
The dynamite that might ignite
Candela!
Becomes the slums eternal light
Candela!
Can you smell it wafting thru the air?
Candela!
no holy hell will stand a prayer
Candela!
A porto rican palestine
Candela!
with kerosene and holy wine
Candela!
God gave Noah the rainbow sign
Candela!
No more wáter but fire next time
Candela!
No more wáter but fire next time
Candela!
No more wáter but fire next time….
Can-de-la!!!
Abrazos Para Ti
aqui donde yo naci
en estas calles sin amor
poverty and misery
mi color es mi dolor
payin' dues and gettin' used
enganar y atacar
New York City hard time blues
este mundo se va acabar
un abrazo para ti, mami
heart to heart and hand to hand
un abrazo para ti, papi
Nuyorican's understand
en este mundo sin perdon
el amor todo lo puede
el ladron roba ladron
sin hogar un casa quiere
Spanish Harlem to the Bronx
dos son menos la sentida
we all get what we don't want
sacrificio o saliva
un abrazo para ti, mami
every woman every man
un abrazo para ti, papi
Nuyorican's understand
en este mundo desgraciado
a pagar sera a llorar
no tengo nadie a mi lado
este tierra va temblar
Loisaida down to Brooklyn
un Corazon abandonada
just don't let em catch you lookin'
quien mal anda mal acaba
un abrazo para ti, mami
heart to heart and hand to hand
un abrazo para ti, papi
every woman every man
un abrazo para ti, mami
spread your arms across the land
un abrazo para ti, papi
Nuyorican's understand
un abrazo para ti
be my shelter from the storm
un abrazo para ti
keep me warm and safe from harm
un abrazo para ti
Puerto Rico es pura flama
un abrazo para ti
ven y ama me mi mama
un abrazo para ti
have and hold enfold me tighter
un abrazo para ti
be my lover not a fighter
un abrazo para ti
counter fit me like a glove
un abrazo para ti
sending my message of love
un abrazo para ti
come and sing it with me gente
un abrazo para ti
nada contra la corriente
un abrazo para ti
donde el Corazon se inclina
un abrazo para ti
yo se que a pie camina
un abrazo para ti
amor no respeta ley
un abrazo para ti
ni obodece a rey
un abrazo para ti
every man, boy, woman, girl
un abrazo para ti
wrap your arms around the world!
The Ballad of Oscar Lopez Rivera
He was just a Puerto Rican boy
South Side of Chicago Illinois
migrant camps doo-wop under street lamps
Ortiz was the Junior Welterweight Champ
West Side Story was on the silver screen
rice and beans and life could be a dream
urban blight in the still of the night
everything was alright
dreams and dynamite
dreams and dynamite
dreams and dynamite
dreams and dynamite
Uncle Sam sent the man to Viet Nam
Birmingham Mississippi Goddamn
riots start up in Humboldt Park
Torn apart from here to Newark
A bronze star in somebody elses war
Matador back out on the killing floor
civil rights plebescites blacks and whites
uptight out of sight
dreams and dynamite
dreams and dynamite
dreams and dynamite
dreams and dynamite
Lions den another attica again
Evanston and the FALN
sent to prison the mission sedition
innervision the streets of division
proud as hell inside and FCI cell
louder than even a Jayuya yell
damn right you either fall or you fight
Puerto Ricans unite!
dreams and dynamite
dreams and dynamite
dreams and dynamite
dreams and dynamite
I got dreams and dynamite
TNT make everything right
to get free ya gotta light up the night
with dynamite!, dynamite!, dynamite!
we gotta stand up and write people
got to fight for ya rights, mi gente
gotta fight, we gotta fight
got to fight for your rights!