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America de los Indios, Daniel Valdez

Played by Chicano singer Daniel Valdez alongside Charles Domanico, Emil Richards, and Bobbye Hall, America de los Indios (America of the Indians) is a powerful and chilling call to rebellion among the continent’s indigenous people. After 500 years of subjugation, he proclaims the arrival of the “explosive century” in which the people will march toward freedom.

Daniel Valdez’s album, Mestizo was the only album from the Chicano movement to have been released on a major record label, coming out on A&M Records in 1974 and solidifying him as a formidable figure in the movimiento.

LYRICS:

Surcando el cielo de América, sangre de viento avanzando,
Forma de fuego en la noche en ruina de allí.
Canto del llanto del indio, voces del tambor, tocando,
Flautas que hablan con Dios, me dicen así.

Sangre y fusil y la tierra, gritando revolución,
Flautas que hablan con Dios, me dicen así.

Manos de bronce en la tierra, flor de sudor van sembrando,
Esperanzas de los pobres nacen aquí.
Corazón, amortajado, caras de piedra se ven.
Niños llenos de tormenta han de nacer.

Sangre y fusil y la tierra, gritando revolución.
Niños llenos de tormenta han de nacer.

América de los indios, siglo explosivo llegó,
Ya van bajando los pueblos hacía la liberación.

Sangre y fusil y la tierra, gritando revolución.
Ya van bajando los pueblos hacía la liberación.

ENGLISH:

Crossing the skies of America, blood of advancing wind,
Shape of fire in the night from there in ruin.
A song of the cry of the Indian, voices of the drum playing,
Flutes that speak with God, say this to me.

Blood and a rifle and the earth, screaming revolution.
Flutes that speak with God, say this to me.

Hands of bronze in the earth, sowing the flower of sweat.
The hopes of the poor are born here.
Heart, shrouded, stone faces are seen.
Children filled with torment will be born.

Blood and a rifle and the earth, screaming revolution.
Children filled with torment will be born.

America of the Indians, the explosive century has arrived.
The people descend from the hills toward liberation.

Blood and a rifle and the earth, screaming revolution.
The people descend from the hills toward liberation.