Cold Cup of Water

Acres and acres of row upon row, scratched in the face of the land
Holding the hope of the seeds we have sown, deep in the cracks of my hands
We come from places our children can't grow, some of us south of the border
Seeking safety and wages and work, dignity, food and water

From harm may we be delivered
Demand though we may be fired
To meet and bargain together
For all workers, clean and safe shelter
And a cold cup of water
And a cold cup of water

There is dust in my eyes my fingers will blister from poisonous water and air
If I speak up the crew boss insists there’s hundreds to take my place here
From Spring to the fall we all make the rounds from bunkhouse, orchard and field
In 49 years I'll be under this ground waiting for next seasons yield

From harm may we be delivered
Demand though we may be fired
To meet and bargain together
For all workers, clean and safe shelter
And a cold cup of water
And a cold cup of water

I trusted the grower's promise of work
Lived months away from my home
Now I yield little more than blisters and dirt and the weariness in me is growing
If you think you owe my family no debt, let the fruit spoil on the bough
3 billion dollars of my toil and sweat are feeding your empire now

From harm may we be delivered
Demand though we may be fired
To meet and bargain together
For all workers, clean and safe shelter
And a cold cup of water
And a cold cup of water
Just a cold cup of water