WEST SIDE OF TOWN
(Tish Hinojosa)


Tish Hinojosa - 1989


Felipe was a young boy when he crossed the Rio Grande
Heading north to Texas where he grew into a man
He fixed cars and worked the wars and raised a family
San Antonio was home on the west side of town

Young Maria dreamed of singin' in a concert hall
Past the plaza and the village church adobe wall
Hard times stole her innocence, but drove the woman's heart
San Antonio bound to the west side of town

She was proud and lived on faith
He was strong in his own way
They were pilgrims that made
A good life the hard way

Felipe lost his first wife in Nineteen-Forty-Three
Seven growing children and desperately in need
Maria came to look for work and found her destiny
With one child of her own to the west side of town

They were married, years went by and now we were thirteen
Days were good and days were bad but mostly they were lean
School and shoes and food and books, believin' in a prayer
God must know His way 'round on the west side of town

She was proud and lived on faith
He was strong in his own way
They were pilgrims that made
A good life the hard way

We would go to Mexico and Mama, she would cry
For the things we'll never know, she had to leave behind
Sisters, brothers know too well what memories can do
Climbing up when you're down from the west side of town

Daddy never owned a house but built a strong foundation
Mama bought her own damn house with self determination
They're both gone, but I know that they're listenin' to this song
'Neath the San Fernando ground on the west side of town

She was proud and lived on faith
He was strong in his own way
They were pilgrims that made
A good life the hard way

Peregrinos de ayer (Peregrinos de ayer) 
El destino y la fe (El destino y la fe)
They were pilgrims that made
A good life the hard way
 
 




(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - October 2015)