Paul Simon Lyrics

Album: Songs From Capeman

Adios Hermanos Lyrics

SAL

It was the morning of October 6th, 1960

I was wearing my brown suit

Preparing to leave the house of D.

Shook some hands then adios Brooklyn amigos

Maybe some of them had hopes of seeing me again

Some even said that my judge-Judge Gerald Culkin-

Wouldn't play it by the book

Maybe let us off the hook

But, WOH-OO-WOH, I knew better.

SAL & SALVADOR

Afraid to leave the projects

To cross into another neighborhood

SAL

The blancos and the nigger gangs

Well, they'd kill you if they could.

AUREA & WOMEN

Angel of Mercy, people are suffering

All over the world

Spanish children are taught on their knees to believe

Angel of Mercy, people are suffering

All over the island tonight,

Mothers weep

SAL & AUREA

Sisters grieve.

SAL

Well, I entered the courtroom, state of New York

County of New York, just some spic

They scrubbed off the sidewalk

Guilty by my dress

Guilty in the press

Let The Capeman burn for the murder

Well the "Spanish boys" had their day in court

And now it was time for some fuckin' law and order

The electric chair

For the greasy pair

Said the judge to the court reporter

SAL & SALVADOR

Afraid to leave the projects

To cross into another neighborhood

SALVADOR

The newspapers and the T.V. crews

Well, they'd kill you if they could

AUREA & WOMEN

Angel of Mercy, people are suffering

All over the world

A Spanish boy could be killed every night of the week

SAL

But just let some white boy die

And the world goes crazy for blood-Latin blood.

I don't lie when I speak.

SAL & SALVADOR

Well they shackled my hands

SAL

A heavy belt around my waist to restrain me

SAL & SALVADOR

And they shackled my legs

SAL

Hernandez, the "Umbrella Man," chained beside me

Then we rode that Black Maria

Through the streets of Spanish Harlem

Calling old friends on the corners

SAL & AUREA

Just to lay our prayers upon them

SAL

Crying

Adios Hermanos, Adios

SAL & SALVADOR

Adios Hermanos, Adios