El Inmigrante

The Immigrant

El Inmigrante

I was only 17Apenas tenia 17
When I crossed the borderCuando cruce la frontera
I promised my dear motherSe lo prometi a mi viejesita
To take her out of povertySacarla de la pobresa
The cold nights burned meMe quemaban las noches de frio
I almost drowned in the riverPor poquito me hogaba en el rio
And to those who suffered the sameY aquellos que sufrieron lo mismo
I dedicate this ballad...Les dedico este corrido...

I am one of many MexicansSoy uno de tantos mexicanos
Who work day by dayQue trabajan dia con dia
To give a future to my childrenPara darle futuro a mis hijos
And help my familyY ayudar a mi familia
How I miss my beloved ranchComo extraño mi rancho querido
My friends who I haven't forgottenMis amigos que no los olvido
And my parents whom I haven't seenY a mis viejos que hace varios años
For several years...Que no los he visto...

They think that because I crossed the linePiensan que por que brinque la linea
I am a drug traffickerSoy un narcotraficante
Enough of a thousand humiliationsYa basta de mil humillaciones
Just for being an 'immigrant'Nomas por ser "inmigrante"
I am singing for all my peopleEstoy cantando por toda mi gente
Don't forget, keep it in mindNo lo olviden tenganlo presente
That those they didn't wantQue aquellos a los que no querian
Today they make them presidents...Hoy los hacen presidentes...

(And even though it hurts many(Y haunque les duela a muchos
We are the majoritySomos mayoria
Pure caliber 50 listen)Puro calibre 50 oiga)

The work here has been very hardEl trabajo aqui ha sido muy duro
But I have never backed downPero nunca me he rajado
And the things I have achievedY las cosas que yo he conseguido
I have earned with effortCon esfuerzo me he ganado
And those who went to the other sideY aquel que se fue pal otro lado
And left their past in their countryY dejo en su pais su pasado
Who would have thought of that young boyQuien pensaba de aquel muchachito
And look at what he has achieved...Y miren lo que a logrado...

They have promised us so many thingsNos han prometido tantas cosas
And have given us nothingY no nos han dado nada
Equality, respect, and toleranceIgualdad, respeto, y tolerancia
Is what my race asks forEs lo que pide mi raza
I am singing for all my peopleEstoy cantando por toda mi gente
Don't forget, keep it in mindNo lo olviden tenganlo presente
And those they didn't wantY aquellos a los que no querian
Today they make them presidents.Hoy los hacen presidentes.