We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Saint William

from Shangri​-​La West by Jesse DeNatale

/

lyrics

Saint William



That’s Saint William standing on the border
He wants you to only take what’s yours
And Manuelo gathers up all his children
After he finishes up all his chores

How do I get from Texas all the way to the city of Angels
That’s where I’m gonna use my hands
How we gonna pay our way there
That’s what I don’t understand

And the moonlight fallin’ down over the hills of old El Paso
He scratches his name in the soil
You can hear the stories unfolding
Every time we labor or toil

What’s this work all the fields in rain
What’s this work another thousand miles
What’s this work everybody’s in line
What’s this work what’s mine

And a little girl walkin’ down by the orchard
In the warm breeze of the sun
She’s bringing lunch to her father
As he sits and quietly strums

Well here’s some food from our supper
And some ointment from the medicine tree
I’ll trade you all this for a story
About our home and how it will be

Que pasa porque llora mi padre
It’s a good day for music and song
But let’s not forget why I came here
Or you’ll get fired if we sit too long

What’s this work all the fields in rain
What’s this work another thousand miles
What’s this work everybody’s in line
What’s this work what’s mine

Well many many people travel through this country
And they fight for what’s not theirs not ours
Oh the age of innocence oh my darling
Was just a battle in a field of flowers

Oh you silly old ranchero
You know this job just ain’t for you
You promise me the moon and the stars
But you take anything like a wolf takes food

What’s this work all the fields in rain
What’s this work another thousand miles
What’s this work everybody’s in line
What’s this work what’s mine

Then go on pack up all your brothers and sisters
You can wait for me by the house and play
I’m gonna finish mending up my blisters
But tonight we’re gonna go away

What’s this work all the fields in rain
What’s this work another thousand miles
What’s this work everybody’s in line
What’s this work it’s mine

Goodnight children goodnight to you
Goodnight children I’ll be there too

credits

from Shangri​-​La West, released January 1, 2003

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Jesse DeNatale image

Jesse DeNatale California

Jesse DeNatale has released four critically acclaimed records: Shangri-La West (2000), Soul Parade (2006), The Wilderness (2021) and The Hands of Time (2023). His music has been described as evocative & hopeful, a combination of poetry and storytelling

"A unique and original American voice"- Tom Waits

"The Bard of Tomales Bay"- Ramblin' Jack Elliott

"A dynamic tune-fountain"- Billy Collins ... more

contact / help

Contact Jesse DeNatale

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Jesse DeNatale, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Fabiana Palladino stops by to talk about her mesmeric debut LP.
listen now