“Victor Jara of Chile” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Victor Jara of Chile” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Performer: Alistair Hulett.
Lyrics: Adrian Mitchell.
Tune: Arlo Guthrie.
Victor Jara of Chile, he lived like a shooting star.
He fought for the people of Chile with his songs and his guitar.
And his hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
Victor was a peasant. He worked from a few years old.
He sat behind his father’s plow, and he watched the earth unfold.
And his hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
If the neighbors had a wedding or one of their children died,
His mother would sing all night for them with Victor by her side.
And his hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
He grew to be a fighter against the people’s wrongs.
He listened to their joy and grief, and he turned them into song.
His hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
He sang about the copper miners and those who worked the land.
He sang for the fact’ry workers, and they knew he was their man.
His hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
He campaigned for Allende, working night and day.
He sang, “Take hold of each other’s hand for the future begins today.”
His hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
The bloody gen’rals, they seized Chile. They arrested Victor then.
They caged him in a stadium with five thousand frightened men.
And his hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
Victor stood up in the stadium, and his voice was brave and strong.
He sang for his fellow prisoners ‘til the guards cut short his song.
And his hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
They broke the bones in both of his hands. They beat his lovely head.
They racked his body with electric shocks. After three long days of torture, they shot him dead.
But his hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
Now the gen’rals, they rule Chile, and the British have their thanks
For they rule with Hawker Hunters and they rule with Chieftain Tanks.
But hits hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
Victor Jara of Chile, he lived like a shooting star.
He fought for the people of Chile with his songs and his guitar.
And his hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
And his hands were gentle; his hands were strong.
His hands were gentle; his hands were strong.