In old California the border guards warn ya that work permits really come dear,
In old Arizona they say they dont want a big bunch of braceros this year.
Down in Laredo they say they're afraid, no work in Lubbock or Abilene.
Not mucho dinero for you poor bracero, they're pickin it with a machine.
CH.
ETC
When you're not out there pickin', well it just dont seem right,
etc

Verse 2

They tell us in Weslaco that we had better go to Chicago or DesMoines,
They say the meat packers might use some wetbackers whose pesos can buy their sirloin,
They tell us in Brownsville if we hang around we'll find out they sure can get mean.
Not mucho dinero for you poor bracero, they're pickin with a machine.

NOTE: Weslaco is a town in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, west of Brownsville. It continues the progression of the song east along the border from California to Brownsville.