Like the River

I come from El Salvador near San Miguel

Tiny town on the Panamericana

I was three when Papa marched off to the monte

Watched my mother cook supper, M16 on her back

At 14 the pandillas came for my brother

Just a girl, mama knew they'd soon claim me too

She cried when I boarded that bus for the desert

The river rose like a ghost

Thought it'd swallow me whole

Sometimes I don't know the next right thing to do

This life that I'm leaving, it's all I've got to lose

I met a man up here, said he'd always protect me

His talk was smooth, but his hand was way too rough

Then one morning he beat me right there in the front yard

All the neighbors looked on

By next day I was gone

'cause I still know how to run

Got a job working nights at the polleria

That way I can be home when the baby's awake

Now so many are sick and they're cutting our hours

I'm not afraid of being poor

I've been there before

Sometimes I don't know the next right thing to do

This life that I leaving is all I've got to lose

And the choices don't get any easier

Oh, but they sure do get clearer with time

Like the river I rise

Like the river I rise