Victor Jara of Chile

 

A CORRIDA FOR VICTOR JARA OF CHILE 

by Adrian Mitchell (Set to music & recorded by Arlo Guthrie)

 

Victor Jara of Chile 

Lived like a shooting star 

He fought for the people of Chile 

With his songs and his guitar.

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

Victor Jara was a peasant 

Worked from a few years old 

He sat upon his father's plough 

And watched the earth unfold.

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

When the neighbors had a wedding 

Or one of their children died 

His mother sang all night for them 

With Victor at her side. 

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

He grew to be a fighter 

Against the people's wrongs 

He listened to their grief and joy 

And turned them into songs.

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

He sang about the copper miners 

And those who work the land 

He sang about the factory workers 

And they knew he was their man.

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

He campaigned for Allende 

Working night and day 

He sang: take hold of your brother's hand 

The future begins today. 

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

The bloody generals seized Chile 

They arrested Victor then 

They caged him in a stadium 

With five thousand frightened men.

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

Victor stood in the stadium 

He voice was brave and strong 

He sang for his fellow prisoners 

Till the guards cut short his song. 

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

They broke the bones in both his hands 

They beat his lovely head 

They tore him with electric shocks 

After two long days of torture they shot him dead. 

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

And now the Generals rule Chile 

And the British have their thanks 

For they rule with Hawker Hunters 

And they rule with Chieftain tanks.

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong.

 

Victor Jara of Chile 

Lived like a shooting star 

He fought for the people of Chile 

With his songs and his guitar. 

 

And his hands were gentle 

His hands were strong. 

 

 https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=V4BdVB5t_Vg...