El Mojado



El Mojado is a corrido that sheds light on the struggles of an illegal immigrant as he tries to settle in the United States. This almost comedic retelling of life expresses the determination and wit that an immigrant must have if he is to try and outsmart his potential captors. The corrido also gives insight to the fears of an illegal immigrant as they try to find work and try to live their day to day life. This corrido is typical of corridos that retell of the exploits as well as the trials and tribulations that a Mexican or Mexican-American would face in their daily lives.

El Mojado
by Maya y Cantu
Music courtesy of Arhoolie Records




El Mojado
Yó soy mojado
y nadie sabe que por el rio yó me pasé
y disfrasado siempre he vivido
y de los guardias me cuidare.

Les aseguro cuanto he sufrido
cuando yo vine a esta nac’on
hay de los sustos que yo he llevado
cuando me encuentra la migración.

Me preguntaron por pasaporte
Y yo les dije "yo soy de aqui"
Luego me piden de fe de bautismo
y yo les dije que la perde.

Súbete al carro me dijo el jefe
y yo de pronto le obedecí
pues yo temblaba como un parabes
de la sorpresa que recibí.

Luego me dicen vete a tu casa
y yo corriendo sin dirección
al dar la vuelta en contra esquina
ven’a otro carro de migración.

Pues me miraron de ariba a bajo
no se fijaron muy bien en mi
y yo voltiaba desimulado
que no vinieran detras de mi.

Muy asustado llegué a mi casa
a platicarle a mi mujer.
de aguel detalle que había pasado.
Ya no podía ni hacer quiaser

"Estos boletos son abusados
te dan trabajo y te dan placer
te dan dinero y te enborachan
si ven que tienes buena mujer."

Pues si me dicen saca el registro
les aseguro que sí lo haré.
les hago un cuatro brincando el charco
y a mi terruño regresaré

Porque en mi patria vivo pensando
y se los digo con emocíon
son muy sagrados mis testadores
¡viva mi pátria y mi pabellón.

I am a wetback
and no one knows
that I crossed through the river
and disguised I´ve always lived.

I assure you that I have suffered
when I came to this nation
what fear I have felt
when I have been found by the immigration.

They asked me for my passport
and I told them I was from here.
Then they asked me for my baptismal certificate
and I told them that I lost it.

So go to the car said the officer
and quickly I obeyed,
but I trembled like paralis
from the surprise that I received.

Then they told me "Go home,"
and without direction I ran
as I turned the corner from across the street
came another immigration car.

Well they looked me up and down
they did not notice who I was
and I casually turned
to make sure that they weren´t behind me.

I was so frightened when I arrived at home
to tell my woman about the incident
she became so nervous she could not
continue her housework.

"Those bosses are abusive
they give you work and plesusre.
They give you money and get you drunk
if they see you have a good woman"

If they say take out your registration
I assure them that I will do it.
I make a four and jump the puddle
and to my land I return.

Because in my motherland I live thinking
And I tell them with emotion
That my colors are very sacred
Long live my mother land and my flag!



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