Lyr Add: El Coyote (Guy Clark)

Subject: Lyr Add: EL COYOTE (Guy Clark)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 03:24 PM

EL COYOTE
Guy Clark and Noel McKay, 2012
As recorded by Guy Clark on "My Favorite Picture of You"

In the town of Reynosa, there's a beautiful river
That shines in the Mexican sun,
There are boats and they cross from one side to the other,
At dusk when the hot day is done.
From there to Acuña to Del Rio, Texas,
Uvalde up through San Antone.
With the pesos I've saved up for years then I'll trade
For the chance to send dollars back home.

Chorus:
Coyote, coyote qué hiciste, cabrón?
Coyote, man what have you done?
You took all our money and left us to die
In the heat of the south Texas sun.
Coyote, qué hiciste, cabrón?

He steps out of the shadows, he won't look in my eyes;
His hand's out to take all I've got.
He says that he's smuggled a thousand good men
And he says that he's never been caught.
So with seventeen other braceros , like cattle
Packed in for that long, final ride.
In the semi-truck crossing the border it's dark,
And it's hot as an oven inside.

Chorus

The braceros are asking in whispers,
Why the truck stopped in the heat of the day?
*At first sign of trouble, he's left us all there
By the road and he's walking away."

Chorus


Copyright EMI. Can be heard on youtube.

*Eighteen locked in a truck; they all died.
Bracero- manual laborer. Illegal who crosses the border into the U. S.
cabrón- pig, pimp, bastard, etc.
qué hiciste - What did you do? What have you done?
Ciudad Acuña

Corrections appreciated. The lyrics sites all have the above lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: El Coyote (Guy Clark)
From: Stewart
Date: 31 Aug 14 - 07:40 PM

On Youtube: El Coyote-Guy Clark/Chuck Phillips

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: El Coyote (Guy Clark)
From: Janie
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 03:42 PM

Thanks for posting these lyrics, Q. Guy Clark is so gifted at writing songs concisely and simply that tell the stories of folks and of the times they live in....Under appreciated, imo.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: El Coyote (Guy Clark)
From: Janie
Date: 01 Sep 14 - 11:17 PM

Is this the tragic story he is telling? I think it is, but am not certain.
http://lubbockonline.com/stories/051503/sta_051503070.shtml

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: El Coyote (Guy Clark)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 01:39 PM

It could be, Janie. Clark does not specify the incident.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: El Coyote (Guy Clark)
From: Janie
Date: 02 Sep 14 - 09:47 PM

I think the 18 dead suggests so. I understand there are many, many who have died in transit under the 'care' of those called Coyotes, but this tragedy drew a lot of national attention, and occurred in Clark's backyard.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: El Coyote (Guy Clark)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 16 - 03:54 AM

Please any Chance some one would be willing to post the chords for this??? I am a new Musician and I really want to play this Song! thank you XOOX

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: El Coyote (Guy Clark)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Mar 16 - 01:11 PM

What key do you want it in? It's a three-chord song so no big deal regarding that.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: El Coyote (Guy Clark)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 17 - 07:49 PM

Uvalde, not "You Valley." Easy mistake for someone unfamiliar with Texas geography. Thanks!