DAVID HERRERA PERFORMANCE COMPANY
Celebrating 17 years of innovative, thought-provoking dance;
Promoting Latinx Voices via modern American Movement
2007 -2024
Best Modern Dance Company, Runner-up 2024, "Bestie" Bay Area Reporter
Best Dance Company, Runner-up 2022 by "Best of the Bay"
ÓRALE!” Song Lyrics and Show Order
Music by El Vez and the Memphis Mariachis
ÓRALE! by David Herrera Performance Company
September 2023
Órale
Oh oralé oh oralé oh oralé oh oralé
When Jesus walked When Jesus walked
Oh when he walked When Jesus walked
Oh when he walked When Jesus walked
Into the USA
Oh oralé oh oralé oh oralé
Oh oralé oh oralé oh oralé oh oralé
When Jesus walked When Jesus walked
Oh when he walked When Jesus walked
Oh when he walked When Jesus walked
Into the USA
oh oralé oh oralé oh oralé
BRIDGE
A new work force of course
To TCB every day
taking care business oh yeah yeah yeah
A new begin family & friends
To share a better working way
Sail on silver girl oh happy day
Sail on by oh happy day
Your time has come to fly
You have no borders
See how they run
Oh when times are rough
and peace just can’t be found oh ho ho
CHORUS
Like a bridge over troubled borders I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled borders I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled bordersI will lay me down
Immigration Time
(Aah, aah
ugh!
Ohh!
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh…..)
I’m caught in a trap, I canʼt walk out
Because my foot ʻs caught in this border fence
Why canʼt you see? Statue of Liberty
I am your homeless tired & weary
(Im sooo weary)
We can grow on together
Itʼs Immigration Time (Immigration Time)
And we can build our dreams
Itʼs Immigration Time (Immigration Time)
Yes Iʼm trying to go, get out of Mexico
The promised land waits on the other side.
(El Vez look out!)
Here they come again (the choppers La Migra)
Theyʼre trying to fence me in
Wanting 2 live w/the brave & the home of the free (oooh, oooh, ooooh)
We can grow on together
Itʼs Immigration Time (Immigration Time)
And we can build our dreams
Itʼs Immigration Time (Immigration Time)
(oooooh)
All that I have I will share (oooh)
Iʼm ain’t asking a lot (ooh), oh no
Youʼre the 1 thatʼs supposed 2 care (ooh)
Weʼre the melting pot...or were U lying 2 me?
ooh oh...not much...ooh oh yeah, yeah
Iʼm caught in a trap, I canʼt walk out
Because my footʼs caught in this border fence
Why canʼt U see? Statue of Liberty
I am your homeless tired & weary
(Dont you know)
Iʼm caught in a trap, yeah, yeah, yeah, I canʼt walk out
Because my footʼs caught in this border fence
Why canʼt U see? yeah, yeah, yeah - Liberty
I am your homeless tired & weary
Iʼm caught in a trap, yeah, yeah, yeah, I canʼt walk out
Because my footʼs caught in this border fence
Why canʼt U see? yeah, yeah, yeah - Liberty
I am your homeless, tired, & weary
Im caught in a trap, I cant walk out……
Aztlan
The river Río Grande is carving like a national scar
I am following the river, making wetbacks,
Where my parents crossed to be now where they are.
I’m going to Aztlan. Where I want to be.
I’m going to Aztlan
Homeboys, Chicanos, Latinas & we are going to Aztlan.
With my traveling companions, La Virgen, Miss Liberty,
a map & my Mecha books.
Well I’ve reason to believe, We all have been deceived,
there still is Aztlan.
Miss Liberty tells me Aztlan's gone….
As if I didn’t know that, as if I didn’t know my own back yard.
As if I didn’t know, to get in you need a card.
& she said losing home, is like a bullet in you heart (oooh, oooh, ooh, ooh)
I am looking for a place, myth of my people,
that won’t get torn apart.
I’m going to Aztlan. Aztlan.
Where I want to be. I’m going to Aztlan.
Homeboys, Latinos with Green cards
& we are going to Aztlan
With my traveling companions, thru Califas,
Arizona on the way to Texas.
But I’ve reason to believe, We all will be received. In Aztlan.
(Guitar solo)
(oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, aaahhh)
There is a girl In San Antonio, who calls herself the human mortar
11 generations she's lived there
Its just the land & name that’s changed its border.
She is the cement that is Aztlan!
And I say who, who, who has ever seen this place? (ooh, oooh, oooh, oooh)
I am looking for a land that belonged to Mexico
But now holds no time or space (wooooh, oooh, oooh)
In Aztlan, Aztlan. I’m going to Aztlan.
For reasons I have explained I’m not a part of Spain.
I’m part of Aztlan
And I’m trying to get back to a place I’ve never been.
I’m trying to cross over.
Well I’ve reason to believe, we all have been deceived. There is an Aztlan….
Mystery Tren
Tren Tren de La Revolución
Tren Tren de La Revolución
Este Tren Toma mi baby, Pero it never will again (Never will again).
Tierra Y Libertad
Tierra Y Libertad
Este Guerra, este, guerra y libertad.
Pancho Villa y Los Zapatistas
Pancho Villa y Los Zapatistas
Adelita es la mujer to destroy Los Capitalistas
Destroy Los Capitalistas! (waahaaa, ooouh!)
Tren Tren de La Revolución
Tren Tren de La Revolución
Este Tren Toma mi baby, Pero it never will again.
Never will again, gain, gain….woohooo!
All Aboard! The night train.
En El Barrio
As she shoos the flies.
On a hot and smoggy, summer morn
Another brown baby is born En El Barrio.
La Mamacita cries,
Porque there’s one that thing she don’t need
That's another hungry vato to feed En El Barrio (En El Barrio)
People don’t you understand (stand)
This child needs a helping hand
Or he’s going to be an angry young man one day.
Take a look at you and me (you and me)
Are we too blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads and look la otra way?
So he joins a gang…
Porque there’s one thing that he can’t stand Thats to have to join a Mariachi band En El Barrio (En el Barrio)
As his tires burn,
Cause he’s riding low and riding slow with no particular place to go En El Barrio (En El Barrio).
Then one night in desperation,
This young man steals away,
Rising son, steals a car, tries to run but he won’t get far.
(The Planes, the plane. Piedra afuera!!!!!!! - as in “rock out”)
Dear Mr. Fantasy, play us a tune
Something to make us all happy.
Do anything, take us out of this gloom
Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy!
You are the one, take us out of this gloom
But doing so, you break down in tears.
Please dont be sad
If it was straight line you had (?)
We wouldn’t have know you all these years (woohoo)
(ooooh, Aaaah, aahhhh)
(ooooh, Aaaah, aahhhh)
(ooooh, Aaaah, aahhhh)
I got a feeling,
A feeling I cant hide
Wooh no (oh no!)
La Mamacita cries,
Porque, what in the heck is she going to do
When the car he stole belongs to Uncle Lou en El Barrio?
Out of East LA…
With no more gangs and no more crime
To the promised land out in Anaheim (near Disneyland)
En El Barrio
En El Barrio (En El Barrio)
Everybody put their hands up
Everybody put the guns down
Everybody took the lowride
Everybody felt the sunshine
Oh no (En el Barrio)
En el Barrio (En el Barrio)
En el Barrio (En El Barrio)
El Barrio….(En El Barrio)
Ave Maria
Ave Maria,
Gratia plena
Maria Gratia plena
Maria Gratia plena
Ave, Ave Dominus
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tu, Jesus
Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Maria, Gratia plena
Maria Gratia plena
Ave, ave Dominus
Dominus tecum.
Benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus
I’m not alone in the night,
When I can have all the love you write.
Ave Maria
Cuauhtemoc Walk
Cuauhtemoc was a man who would be King
Cortez burned his feet because he would not sing
About the treasures of the Aztec Gold
The Golds still there or so I am told
Yo soy El Rey de las Aztecas
Rey de las Aztecas
Yo soy El Rey de las Aztecas
Come on and walk the Cuauhtemoc!
Cuauhtemoc was the nephew of King Moctezum
His head wore the feather of the quetzal plume
Uncle Moctezuma was a noble man
Cuauhtemoc would be King of Tenochtitlan!
Yo soy El Rey de las Aztecas ( ? )
Rey de las Aztecas (what a babe)
Yo soy El Rey de las Aztecas
Come on and walk the Cuauhtemoc!
Hopping on your foot, rocking to and fro (ooooh)
Shake it like a Mayan, pero not so slow
Then you do the hot foot baby raise your hands
We’ve got to spread this Aztec Culture across the land
Well the one day Cortez came to town
Cuauhtemoc didn’t dig what he was putting down
Quetzalcoatal this guy ain’t
They’re not Gods! Its time for our war paint!
Yo soy El Rey de las Aztecas (?)
Rey de las Aztecas (what a babe)
Yo soy El Rey de las Aztecas
Come on and walk the Cuauhtemoc!
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (x9)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (x10)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (x9)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (x9), aaahhh, aaah, aaahhh
Cuauhtemoc was the man who would be King
Cortez came along and he messed the scene
He died for Aztec glory I would say
Moctezuma gets his revenge everyday!
Yo soy El Rey de las Aztecas
Rey de las Aztecas (what a babe!)
Yo soy El Rey de las Aztecas
Come on and walk the Cuauhtemoc!
La, la, la, la, la ……..
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (x9)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (x10)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (x9)
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la (x9), aaahhh, aaah, aaahhh
- Intermission -
Huarches Azules
Pues, un por dinero
Dos para la show
Tres estamos listos....arriba, arriba, arriba
Pero no pieses mis Huaraches Azules
Pues haz lo que quieres, no pieses mis Huaraches Azules
Pega mi, cachetada, toca mi shoes and you’ll be sorry
Mess up my hair all covered with mouse’
Pero, uh, uh, vato lay off of them shoes,
Pero no pieses mis Huaraches Azules
Pues haz lo que quieres, no pieses mis Huaraches Azules
I feel like dancing....
step on my turf, write on my car
Drink my Tequila from an old fruit jar
Scratch my records by Celia Cruz
Pero, uh, uh, vato lay off of them shoes
Pero no pieses mis Huaraches Azules
Pues haz lo que quieres, no pieses mis Huaraches Azules
Pues, un por dinero
Dos para la show
Tres estamos listos....arriba, arriba, arriba
Pero no pieses mis Huaraches Azules
Pues haz lo que quieres, no pieses mis Huaraches Azules
Azule, Azule Huaraches Azules baby
Azule, Azule Huaraches Azules baby
Pues haz lo que quieres, no pieses mis Huaraches Azules
Black Magic Woman
Got a black magic woman
Got a black magic woman
I've got a black magic woman
Making me blind, I can't see.
I got a black magic woman
She's trying to make a devil outta me.
Don't turn your back on me, baby
Don't turn your back on me, baby
don't turn your back on me, baby
Stop messing 'round with your tricks,
Don't turn your back on me, baby
You might pick up my magic sticks.
You cast your spell on me, baby
You cast your spell on me, baby
You cast your spell on me, baby
Turning my heart into stone
I need you so bad
Woman I can't leave you alone
(Meow)
Walk A Mile
If I could be U, if U could B me
For just 1 hour,
If we could find a way
To get in each other's mind.
If U could see U, through my eyes
Instead your ego
I do believe, I do believe you'd be surprised 2 see
That you've been blind.
Walk a mile in my shoes
Just walk a mile in my shoes
Before you abuse, criticize, and use??
Now if we spend the day
Throwin' stones at one another
'Cause I don't think, cause I dont think
or we are my hair the same way you do.
Well I may be common people
But I'm your brother.
And when U strike out You're tryin' to hurt me
It's a hurtin' U, Lord have mercy!
Walk a mile in my shoes
Just walk a mile in my shoes
Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes.
Now, there are people on reservations,
And out in the ghetto (en el barrio)
and brother, there
But for the grace of God.
Go you and I…Hay, hay, hay!
Walk a mile in my shoes
Just walk a mile in my shoes
Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse
Then walk a mile in my shoes.
Just Walk a mile in my shoes,
Just walk a mile in my shoes,
Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse
Then walk a mile in my shoes.
Walk a mile in my shoes,
Just walk a mile in my shoes,
Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse
Then walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes,
Just walk a mile in my shoes,
Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse
Then walk a mile in my shoes.
Walk a mile in my shoes (Oh! Walk a Mile)
Walk a mile in my shoes (Walk a Mileeee)
Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse
Then walk a mile in my shoes (A mile in my Shoes)
yeah, yeah, yea!
Taking Care of Business
We get up every morning, from the alarm clocks warning
do the menial jobs that run this city
There’s a whistle up above and we’re cleaning and we scrub
do your lawn, to make you look pretty
And if our bus is on time, getting to work way before 9
to stock and sweat, $2.15 is our pay.
And your getting all annoyed, cause the problems are unemployed
they’re jobs you wouldn’t take any way!
And we’re TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS, Everyday
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS, Oralé!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS, we’re the maid!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS--and getting under paid!
Work out!
For an easy addition you get workers for the kitchen
Paid under table, they won’t tell-oh!
If you need a handyman, you can go to standard brands
And get one of those “Stand-Around fellows”.
You see us slaving in the sun, from la migra we must run!
You tell us that you like it this way.
Then you're getting all annoyed, cause the problem’s unemployed
they’re jobs you wouldn’t take any way!
And we’re TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS, Everyday
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS - Oralé!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS - blowing leaves!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS— no green cards up our sleeves,
Look out!
All we want is a good job, so we can stand on our two feet
We’re crawling up from the bottom, we’re proud labor that just can’t hide
You wouldn’t want to be a field worker, and be sprayed with pesticide (woow!)
And we’ve been TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS— Everyday!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS, Oralé!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS, working fields!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS--and cooking all your meals!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS, kitchen crew!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS, nannies too!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS - blowing leaves!
TAKING’ CARE OF BUSINESS, no green cards up our sleeves.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
TAKIND CARE OF BUSINESS
Take it Home!
Soy Un Pocho
“Soy Segunda Generación Latina
Soy partes de se Moviemento pero no puedo hablar
Ninguna palabra de lo”
Well I am a Mexican, and I am hardcore
I don’t speak Spanish but I know the score!
Well I was born here and my dad was too
but I can still be as brown as you!
But I love LA LA RAZA (POOOOOE)
Well I love LA LA RAZA
Well I don’t speak good like I know I should
porque...soy un pocho.
Well to be a Chicano, is more than a language
I’m not white bread, but I am a sandwich.
The best of both worlds my tongue can’t say
I guess I was just brought up that way.
But I love LA LA RAZA (POOOOO)
Well I love LA LA RAZA (CHOOOOO)
Well I don’t speak good, like I know I could (LA LA LA)
porque... soy un pocho.
Spanish in high school and in junior college
I know my history, my knowledge is solid.
I don’t speak Spanish but I try my best:
¡Eso Sí Que Es!
Well my first language would have to be English
i ‘m sure i sound funny when I say my Spanglish
Do I blame my parents or do blame myself? NO!
You don’t need the language to share the wealth
of LA LA LA RAZA (POOOOOE)
Well I love LA LA RAZA (CHOOOOO)
Well I don’t speak good like i know I should porque
soy un pocho……
Soy soy soy un po-cho-cho!!
Soy soy soy un po-cho-cho!!
Soy soy soy un po-cho-cho!!
Soy soy soy un po-cho-cho!!
Samba Para Elvis
Are you lonesome tonight dear? (ooh)
Do you miss me tonight dear? (aah)
Are you sad we drifted apart?
Sad we drifted all apart?
Does your memory stray to a bright summer’s day
When you smiled and called me sweetheart?
Do the chairs in your parlor, Dear…. (oooh aaah)
seem empty and bare, Dear? (oooh aaah)
Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there?
Is your heart filled with pain, shall I come back again?
Tell me dear, are you lonesome tonight?
Maybe I didn't love you
Often as I could have
Maybe I didn't kiss you
Often as I should have.
Maybe I didn’t hold you
(maybe I, maybe I, maybe I didn't hold you)
All those long lonely nights
Maybe I never told you
(maybe I, maybe I, maybe I never told you)
I wanted to mold you
But You You You You You are always on my mind
But You You You You You are always on my mind
All the time…yeah, yeah, yeah
(Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doooooo)
Viva La Raza
Olmeca, Tolteca, Chichimeca, Mixteca
Aztec City sacrifice my soul
Sacrifice my soul on fire!
After Mayans and Toltecs came Tenochitlan
Taking Civilization much higher…
Astronomers were mapping the stars,
Inventing Zero, Aztec Gold Calendars,
The Pyramids were sending message to Mars..saying
Viva La Raza, Viva La Raza
??, Cuahutemoc, Moctezuma, ?? , ..............
The came Cortez with conquistadors from Spain
Turning Indios into Meztisos
Mixing old with the new, killing more than a few
Do we still weep for what they did sow?
Then came Religion for there crimes we must pay
Don Diego saw la Virgen Guadalupe.
Hidalgo used her for his banner to say..hey
Viva La Raza, Viva La Raza
Viva La Raza y La Revolucion, Pancho Villa el solucion
Obregon’s arm went down the drain.
Viva La Raza y La Artistas like Tamayo
Paintings of Cinco de Mayo
See Diego’s murals and you’ll never be the same again.
Cesar Chavez, Porfino Diaz, Louie Valdez, Mr. El Vez
Gonna have me some fun and I don’t need a gun
Todays Chicanos are sons of Mexico.
You gotta keep up hope and you don’t need no dope to
have a swinging time,
You’ve got to give everything you got
Somos Latinos and Latinos are hot!
You’ve got to give it all, give it all you got, saying
Viva La Raza, Viva La Raza, Viva La Raza
Viva, Viva La Raza!!!!!!!! (aaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!)
Bonus songs:
Mexican-can
Esta Bien Mamacita