By Paul Simon and Derek Walcott, 1997
SAL
C G
It was the morning of October 6th, 1960
Am
I was wearing my brown suit
Preparing to leave the house of D.
F G Dm C
Shook some hands then adios Brooklyn amigos
C
Maybe some of them had hopes of seeing me again
G Am
Some even said that my judge-Judge Gerald Culkin-
F
Wouldn't play it by the book
G
Maybe let us off the hook
Dm C No Chord
But, WOH-OO-WOH, I knew better.
SAL & SALVADOR
C G
Afraid to leave the projects
Am
To cross into another neighborhood
SAL
F G
The blancos and the nigger gangs
Dm C
Well, they'd kill you if they could.
AUREA & WOMEN
F Bb
Angel of Mercy, people are suffering
C Bb
All over the world
F C G C C7 F
Spanish children are taught on their knees to believe
F/A Bb
Angel of Mercy, people are suffering
C
All over the island tonight,
Bb F C G
Mothers weep
SAL & AUREA
C G G7
Sisters grieve.
SAL
C
Well, I entered the courtroom, state of New York
G Am
County of New York, just some spic
They scrubbed off the sidewalk
F
Guilty by my dress
G
Guilty in the press
Dm C No Chord
Let The Capeman burn for the murder
C
Well the "Spanish boys" had their day in court
G Am
And now it was time for some fuckin' law and order
F
The electric chair
G
For the greasy pair
Dm C No Chord
Said the judge to the court reporter
SAL & SALVADOR
C G
Afraid to leave the projects
Am
To cross into another neighborhood
SALVADOR
F G
The newspapers and the T.V. crews
Dm C
Well, they'd kill you if they could
AUREA & WOMEN
F Bb
Angel of Mercy, people are suffering
C Bb
All over the world
F C G G7 C C7 F
A Spanish boy could be killed every night of the week
SAL
F/A
But just let some white boy die
Bb C
And the world goes crazy for blood-Latin blood.
C F C G C G G7
I don't lie when I speak.
SAL & SALVADOR
C G Am
Well they shackled my hands
SAL
F G Dm C
A heavy belt around my waist to restrain me
SAL & SALVADOR
C G Am
And they shackled my legs
SAL
F G Dm C No Chord
Hernandez, the "Umbrella Man," chained beside me
C G
Then we rode that Black Maria
Am
Through the streets of Spanish Harlem
F G
Calling old friends on the corners
SAL & AUREA
Dm C
Just to lay our prayers upon them
SAL
Crying
G Am
Adios Hermanos, A----dios
SAL & SALVADOR
F G Dm C
Adios Hermanos, A----dios
|