Merle Haggard — The Immigrant

American ranching consists of a mansion Where illegal immigrants do much of the labor by hand They sneak 'em through customs till time comes to bust 'em Then haul 'em back over the border to their own native land With a ragged sombrero and not much dinero They'll be back again when the ole Rio Grande's down low Border patroller, don't stop a stroller 'Cause the Mexican immigrant is helping America grow Viva La Mexico, go where they let you go Do what you can for the land Take home dinero and buy new sombrero And come back again when you can What makes a gringo, you smart aleck lingo When he stole this land from the Indian man way back when Don't he remember the big money lender That put in a Lincoln parked where his pinto had been? The almighty peso that gives him the say so To dry up the river whenever there's crops to bring in Is this a good neighbor to take all his labor Chase him back over the border till he's needed again? Viva La Mexico, go where they let you go Do what you can for the land Take home dinero and buy new sombrero And come back again when you can Viva La Mexico, go where they let you go Do what you can for the land Take home dinero and buy new sombrero And come back again when you can