Sylvia and Salvador: Music
Yo Soy El Mexico De Afuera (I Am Mexico On The Outside)
Living here in San Diego, I have watched the traffic of people, sometimes with nothing more than what they have on their backs, who dare to cross the border--out of hunger and desperation--trying to find the "Mexican dream." Many of them die, others actually are able to find work, but it isn't always what they expect it to be...
8) YO SOY EL MEXICO DE AFUERA
ENGLIGH VERSION: SYLVIA WAGERS, BMI
MEXICO ON THE OUTSIDE
I AM MEXICO ON THE OUTSIDE. MY VEINS RUN WITH THE BLOOD OF THE AZTECS, THE TARASCAS, AND THE OTOMI.
THERE WAS NO WORK, POVERTY WAS CHOKING US TO DEATH, AND THAT IS WHY I CAME HERE.
I AM MEXICO ON THE OUTSIDE. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT MY ANGUISH AND MY PAIN!
MY SOUL IS DESTROYED, AND MY BACK IS STILL WET, BUT IT IS NOT BY MY CHOICE.
I STILL REMEMBER THOSE MOMENTS WHEN I THOUGHT I WOULD SURELY DIE. WHILE CROSSING THE DESERTS, I COULD FEEL THE LIFE SLOWLY DRAINING FROM MY BODY.
I CAME TO SOME FIELDS AND FOUND MYSELF AMONGST MY COUNTRYMEN. THEY HELPED ME, THEY TOOK ME IN, AND THEY GAVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT.
I AM THE MEXICO THAT CRIES, THAT WANTS TO FIGHT, AND LOVES HIS COUNTRY.
HOW I LONG FOR IT TO CHANGE! HOW I LONG FOR THOSE “ON TOP” TO QUIT ABUSING THEIR POWER, AND TO WALK BESIDE US IN EQUALITY.
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SO FAR AWAY, IT IS TIME FOR US TO GET IN LINE, TO BE UNITED, AND TO FIGHT TOGETHER UNTIL OUR RIGHTS ARE NO LONGER IGNORED, AND THEIR VALUE IS TRULY AND FULLY HONORED.
MY FAMILY NOW LIVES WITHOUT POVERTY, BUT ALSO, WITHOUT ME! AND I HAVE NO IDEA IF, OR WHEN, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO BRING THEM HERE.
MY LIFE HERE IS SO DIFFICULT! BUT IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT IF I RETURNED TO MY COUNTRY, THE COUNTRY WHERE I WAS BORN.
I AM MEXICO ON THE OUTSIDE. I WANT TO SHOUT OUT MY ANGUISH AND MY PAIN!