A ROSE FOR CESAR
CHORUS
Come plant a rose for Cesar,
And pick a rose for Delores.
Sing a song of peace and justice,
Sing aloud de colores.
In a river town called Yuma
Cesar’s family farmed the soil,
But a banker grabbed their deed,
What they’d earned by sweat and toil.
So they loaded up the Studebaker
Joined the migrants going west,
Picking peaches, hoeing lettuce
In the hot sun with no rest.
Years later in Sal Si Puede,
Meaning: get out if you can,
Cesar, with his new wife, Helen,
Chose to make a stand.
He was joined by Delores Huerta,
A teacher with a heart of fire.
In Delano they formed a union.
Si, se puede, is still the cry.
In the valley San Joaquin
Filipinos pruned and picked the vines,
Getting paid less than braceros,
They soon formed a picket line.
Yes, said Cesar, we will join you.
We will strike for decent pay.
Until the growers sign a contract,
On the vines the grapes will stay.
So the workers fought for rights,
Marching, singing, organizing,
Facing violence, hunger and low wages,
Beat down, they kept on rising.
Fought for toilets and clean water,
Long-handled hoes so backs wouldn’t break,
Housing, health care, and old-age pensions,
All that’s due for fairness sake,
For the children, for the parents,
Campesinos proud and strong,
Bringing us each day our food,
Teaching us the justice song.
And still the fight continues.
Pesticides still make us sick.
Growers, politicians, attack our union
Sowing seeds of harsh conflict.
But united we fight on.
La Causa is our way of life
Until all God’s children work together,
Free of fear and want and strife.
Can’t you see the smiles of children?
Can’t you hear the songs they sing?
Songs of flowers, birds and rainbows,
Songs of letting freedom ring.
Things go better with a contract
A flower grower one day said.
Then to honor Cesar Chavez,
That brave Chicano man who led,
They named a new rose after him,
A rose deep red so all would know
That those who own and those who pick
Can jointly sew the seeds of hope.
So plant a rose for Cesar
And pick a rose for Delores.
Sing a song of peace and justice.
Sing aloud de colores.
De colores,
de colores se visten los campos
en la primavera.
De colores, de colores son los pajaritos
que vienen de afuera.
De colores, de colores es el arco iris
que vemos lucir.
Y por eso los grandes amores
de muchos colores me gustan a mi.
Y por eso los grandes amores
de muchos colores me gustan a mi.
A corrido
by Ben Jacques
Ben Jacques Stories 