In Las Cruces, New Mexico, the US border fence is such a dark and hideous, nightmarish vision, that festers in my soul, and years later when I see a NY Times video story about the thousands of immigrants found dead in the desert after climbing the fence, everything coalesces, and I am moved to write the powerful song “Bandera”.
lyrics
Lyrics
BANDERA - Jose Conde
El hombre con su nocion
De propiedad por divina estrella
Sobre lo natural
Subraya su ilusion de barreras
Meticulosamente
Dividiendo su conquista
Hasta que la muerte llega y le enseña su sonrisa
Bandera, Bandera
Que esta pasando en la frontera mi bandera
En nombre de la nacion
Alzan una Pared
En vez de ir pa lante
Estan virando al revez
Porque donde hay motivo
Siempre Habra manera
Y estan riesgando la vida al cruzar
Y tropesando con carabelas
Bandera, Bandera
Que esta pasando en la frontera mi bandera
Cultura si…. Barreras no
Alza tu Bandera sin Barreras
Since 2001 the remains of at least 2200 migrants have been recovered in AZ near the US/Mexico border…
Man with his notion
Of property by divine stars (manifest destiny)
Over nature
Draws an illusion of barricades
Meticulously dividing his conquest
Until death arrives
And shows him it’s smile…..
Flag, Flag
What’s happening on the border my flag?
In the name of the nation
They raise a wall
Instead of moving forward
They turn and go backwards
Because where there is a motive
There will always be a way
And they are risking their lives in crossing
And running into cadavers (of those that came before)
Flag, Flag
What’s happening on the border my flag?
credits