Folks, I'm posting this as a fine example of a more recent song (1970s) that is like a traditional American folksong. I would generally, after deliberation, decide to learn a topical song like this one. By "topical song" I mean a song that tells a ballad-like story on an actual narrative topic. Topic Records, in Great Britain, may have taken their name from this conception of things folk. Early People's Songs Bulletins in the U.S. (circa 1950s) said that they were presenting "topical songs". These were quite unlike the pop songs. In those days Pete Seeger usually stated that the pop/tin-pan-alley songs were about mundane topics like "moon, June, croon and spoon". I do hope, if it's important at all, that this might clarify what I feel many folksongs are. Woody may have agreed about this one.

Art Thieme

BRACERO
from the singing of Stu Phillips
by Leon Payne

In old California the border guards warn ya that work permits really come dear,
In old Arizona they say they don't want a big crop of braceros this year,
Down in Laredo they say they're afraid no work at Lubbock or Abilene,
Not mucho dinero for you poor bracero--- they're pickin' it with a machine.

CH)
Bracero, bacero---the cotton is white,
You're not out their picking and it just don't seem right,
Machines have brought starvation close to your door,
Bracero, bracero---don't need you no more.

They tell us in Westigo they think it's it's best to go to Chicago or DesMoines,
They say some meat packers might use some wet-backers who eat chili to buy them sirloin,
They tell us in Brownsville if we stick around that we'll find out they sure can get mean,
Not mucho dinero for you poor bracero---they're pickin' it with a machine.

CH)