Veracruz

By Warren Zevon and Jorge Calderon

c. 1978 Zevon Music/BMI and Polite Music/ASCAP

I heard Woodrow Wilson's guns

I heard Maria crying

Late last night I heard the news

That Veracruz was dying

Veracruz was dying

Someone called Maria's name

I swear it was my father's voice

Saying, "If you stay you'll all be slain

You must leave now - you have no choice

Take the servants and ride west

Keep the child close to your chest

When the American troops withdraw

Let Zapata take the rest"

I heard Woodrow Wilson's guns

I heard Maria calling

Saying, "Veracruz is dying

And Cuernavaca's falling"

Aquel dia yo jure (On that day I swore)

Hacia el puerto volvere (To the port I will return)

Aunque el destino cambio mi vida (Even though destiny changed my life)

En Veracruz morire (In Veracruz I shall die)

Aquel dia yo jure (On that day I swore)

I heard Woodrow Wilson's guns

I heard them in the harbor

Saying, "Veracruz is dying"