When I left the rancho I wasn't even wearing underwear

but that's how I got to Santa Ana, as a hitchhiker

Since I didn't have any money, I used to stop on each corner

in order to steal some chicken necks

I wanted to cross the American border

I wanted to make some money  That was my plan

Since I didn't have any papers, much less a passport

I crossed the border through the hills by myself,
without a coyote's help

Later on you will see

how my adventure went

I got to Tijuana with my feet destroyed

the sandals I had on, wore off right away

I left behind my hat and my shirt when I was being chased 

by some Americans that almost got me

I ended up in the freeway, I was starving and exhausted

I got on a freight train that was coming from Colorado

and its final destination was San Francisco and I hung on

but with my bad luck I got caught in Salinas

Later on you will see

how my adventure went

The Border Patrol got there and they tied my hands

I didn't understand what they were saying,
they were speaking in English

The white men told me to go back to my ranch

but I felt bad going back to my land

as a looser with no money and no clothing

Thank you very much

Cuando yo salí del rancho no llevaba ni calzones,

pero así llegué a Santa Ana de puritos aventones

Como no traía dinero me paraba en las esquinas

para ver a quien gorreaba los pescuezos de gallina

Yo quería cruzar la línea de la unión americana

yo quería ganar dinero porque esa era mi tirada

Como no traía papeles, mucho menos pasaporte

me avente cruzando el cerro yo solito y sin coyote


Después veras

como me fué

Llegué a Tijuana con las patas bien peladas 

los huaraches que llevaba se acabaron de volada

el sombrero y la camisa los deje en la correteada

que me dieron unos güeros que ya mero me alcanzaban

Me salí a la carretera muerto de hambre y desvelado

me subí en un tren carguero que venía de Colorado

y con rumbo a San Francisco donde yo me fui colgado

pero con tan mala suerte que en Salinas me agarraron

Después veras

como me fue

Llegó la migra de las manos me amarraron

me decian no se que cosa, en inglés me regañaron


Me dijeron los gabachos te regresas a tu rancho

pero yo sentí muy gacho regresar a mi terruño

de bracero fracazado sin dinero y sin hilacho

Muchas gracias