Started out fine, we were moving ahead
I was driving in the truck
You were combing the hair on the head
Of the one in the middle
She was loving it all, bouncing around like a rubber ball

And you thought she was just about the finest kid I had to agree
But maybe that’s cause she looks like me
And you were filling a space
Maybe taking the place of a father

But then you started seeing that it might be a scene
You got to complaining, you got pretty mean
First it was the weather and then it was me
And then you started taking it out on the baby

Well, if you think traveling three is a drag
Pack it up, loner, I’ve got my own bag full of dreams
For this little child of wonder
And you can only stay if you start to understand

How an old camp fire gets warmer with you
But even when you’re gone
It still cooks the stew and the coffee
How it frees my soul
And I ain’t ready to grow that cold

You say, “Go home, lady, and find you a someone”
Who’s gonna turn out to be a middle class bum anyway
Well, he might make me some money
But that ain’t the kind of life we’re looking for, honey

So don’t go around saying I’ve been a burden to you
You’ve been a burden to me and we’re through
If you can’t seem to find the joy in my living
Can’t seem to get into taking and giving

’Cause I’ve got a little one who loves me as much as you need me
And, darling, that’s loving enough
For a hiking boot mother who’s seeing the world
For the first time with her own little girl

Why are our history books so full of lies
When no word is spoken of why the Indian dies
Or that the Chicanos/Chicanas love the California land
Do our books all say it was discovered by one white man

That’s just a lie, one of the many and we’ve had plenty
I don’t want more of the same
No more genocide in my name

Why are the weapons of war so young
And why are there always rich ones around when it’s done
Why are so many of the soldiers black or brown
Do we think it’s because they’re good
At cutting other people down

Nazi forces grow again
Ignorance gives them a place
The Klan is teaching children
To hate the human race
Where once there was a playground
Now an MX missile plan
Do they think it’s fun to see
Just how much we can stand

People die all around the world
From starvation and grief all the time
Some folks try to avoid the truth
By saying God and gun will provide
In Rome, in Capetown, and Beirut
San Salvador, Greensboro, Belfast, Manila

And many more
It’s a crime
Do we think the fascist right will save the world in time
They try to tell us so
But we’ve got to tell them no

Michelle Peña Herrera
Nalvia Rosa Meña Alvarado
Cecilia Castro Salvadores
Ida Amelia Almarza
Clara Elena Cantero
Elisa del Carmen Escobar
Eliana Maria Espinosa
Rosa Elena Morales

Hay una mujer desaparecida
Hay una mujer desaparecida
En Chile, en Chile, en Chile

And the junta, and the junta knows
And the junta knows where she is
And the junta knows where they are
Hiding her, she’s dying

Missing in Brazil
Missing in Uruguay
Missing in Guatemala
Missing in El Salvador

Hay un hombre
Hay un niño
O los niños
Hay una mujer desaparecida

A spirit lives in Chile
New lives, new songs
A spirit grows in Chile
New lives, new songs are rising up
A spirit sings in Chile
New lives, new songs are rising up
A spirit lives in Chile
New lives, new songs
In Chile

A woman is dressed in style tonight
A three piece suit and a tie tonight
There's a polished glow on her face in spite
Of her look of amusement
And she will dine with her true love
Take in a bar or two
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

The gal is dressed for work tonight
She's got dusty jeans and boots tonight
There's a lovers look on her face in spite
Of her farming intention
And she will plant with her true love
Take a break in the barn, maybe two
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

The jock is dressed in wool tonight
Softball glove and a cap tonight
There's a competitive look in her eye in spite
Of her generous heart
And she'll play ball with her true love
Take in a home run or two
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

All the rules have been broken
They're not talking about the weather
A gentleman asks "Are you ladies alone?"
They smile and say, "No, we're together!"

A woman is dressed in silk tonight
A glittering gown and a stole tonight
There's sequin on her cheek in spite
Of her sparkling eyes
And she will dance with her true love
Take in a show or two
And nothing short of a perfect night
And nothing short of a perfect night
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

Finally a baby born in the spring time
Then helping us all face a death in our lives
Your mother and your grandma
And your aunts so proud and grateful
Your father and you are now the men in our lives

But outside the shelter, the war claims the children
That you might grow up to be friends with one day
And what of the water, the air and the desert
We make a family promise on your first birthday

While we're alive in this world
We will try to disarm every nuclear nation
An everyday gift to the child
A gift to ourselves, while we're alive

Amazed by the details we watch you for hours
Just like our dad did, you make us all smile
Such inspiration for facing the future
Demanding survival, your fist still so small

We are a gentle angry people
And we are singing, singing for our lives

We are a land of many colors
We are an anti-nuclear people
We are young and old together
We are gay and straight together
We are a gentle loving people

Life is full
Of tides that pull
Oceans and hearts to shore
And I found it's like
The heat of dancing feet
Keeping a body warm
I like the melodies
In evergreens, roaming winds
And rocky mountains
Summer storms and hawks that warn
Innocent lands
Working hands
And the miraculous birth of a child
Who demands attention
I have been such a child

Life's a gift of arms that
Lift baskets of fruit to share
And I find it's like a night
Of northern lights
Startling me, unaware
I like the whales at sea
The mysteries
Irish cliffs and desert flatlands
Weathered barns and farmers' yarns
Arrows unfound, quiet towns and
Incredible death oh, we know
It is bound to happen

Singing with you
Is the best thing that could happen
To me my friend
You throw me back a voice
That is a mighty bit more than
Making a dream come true
And when life is a burden
And every heart we know is
A hurting heart
The world is on trial
We're walking a mile
And singing with you is a start
A start for me
For my heart

From Fire in the Rain (1981)

Fire in the rain, fire in the rain
You're like a fire in the rain
So unexpected, I came upon your love

You came into my life
And I had my eyes wide open
Unintending to burn, you offered your light
You offered the warmth of love
And I had to learn how to feel the heat
And not get burned

I got too close one night
With no plans for heart left open
Unintending to change, I had nothing to fear
But the music she let me hear
Like an ancient fife, it had a haunting tune
It changed my life

I want you
Sometimes I stare for hours
Like the last to leave the fire on a winter night
Sometimes I dance before you
Like a firefly who is caught in your light

Unintending to burn, you offered your light
You offered the warmth of love
And I had to learn how to feel the heat
And not get burned

I remember you
Stronger than the wind
Brighter than the moon
Faster than the night

From Demo Session (1982)

Where will you go when we leave this place tonight
How will you feel in the morning
Will you tell a friend, will you tell a stranger in your day
Or will you slowly let this feeling drift away

Is this a night of resolution in our hearts
Or is tonight just entertainment
And in the morning when the sun is rising will you rise and say
Oh let this feeling follow me throughout the day

Take it with you wherever you go
And let the world know we won't go easy
Take it with, take it with you wherever you go
Take it with, take it with you wherever you go

How can we harbor all the light that comes with love
Let's not be robbed of life's perfections
Can we remember to care in a world where madness fills the air
And will we take the music, it's here to share

It is like we're being held by a thousand loving arms
With the tenderness of my mother's kiss and the passion of a lover
Don't let tomorrow's plans for you fade this special moment
Won't you try to pass it on to me
Help a wondering heart discover

From Singing With You (1984)

Life is full
Of tides that pull
Oceans and hearts to shore
And I found it's like
The heat of dancing feet
Keeping a body warm
I like the melodies
In evergreens, roaming winds
And rocky mountains
Summer storms and hawks that warn
Innocent lands
Working hands
And the miraculous birth of a child
Who demands attention
I have been such a child

Life's a gift of arms that
Lift baskets of fruit to share
And I find it's like a night
Of northern lights
Startling me, unaware

I like the whales at sea
The mysteries
Irish cliffs and desert flatlands
Weathered barns and farmers' yarns
Arrows unfound, quiet towns and
Incredible death oh, we know
It is bound to happen

Singing with you
Is the best thing that could happen
To me my friend
You throw me back a voice
That is a mighty bit more than
Making a dream come true
And when life is a burden
And every heart we know is
A hurting heart
The world is on trial
We're walking a mile
And singing with you is a start

A start for me
For my heart

Oh, life is full
Of tides that pull
Oceans and hearts to shore
And I find it's like
The heat of dancing feet
Keeping a body warm
I like the melodies
In evergreens, roaming winds
And rocky mountains
Summer storms and hawks that warn
Innocent lands
Working hands
And the miraculous birth of a child
Who demands attention

From Lifeline (1983)

A woman is dressed in style tonight
A three piece suit and a tie tonight
There's a polished glow on her face in spite
Of her look of amusement
And she will dine with her true love
Take in a bar or two
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

The gal is dressed for work tonight
She's got dusty jeans and boots tonight
There's a lovers look on her face in spite
Of her farming intention
And she will plant with her true love
Take a break in the barn, maybe two
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

The jock is dressed in wool tonight
Softball glove and a cap tonight
There's a competitive look in her eye in spite
Of her generous heart
And she'll play ball with her true love
Take in a home run or two
And nothing short of a perfect night will do

All the rules have been broken
They're not talking about the weather
A gentleman asks "Are you ladies alone?"
They smile and say, "No, we're together!"

A woman is dressed in silk tonight
A glittering gown and a stole tonight
There's sequin on her cheek in spite
Of her sparkling eyes
And she will dance with her true love
Take in a show or two
And nothing short of a perfect night
And nothing short of a perfect night
And nothing short of a perfect night will do