Orosi

[Verse 1] Up early like a slave in the summer Sophomore in high school living with his mama In Orosi a city 40 miles south of Fresno Middle of some farm land but very much a ghetto Not quite North yet, not quite South Money tight in Orosi so they shooting it out Southern gangs fighting Northern gangs middle of Orosi Same people fighting same people in Orosi Filipino farmers tend to farm with their brothers Mexican and Central Americans in a huddle Picking vegetables and fruits Watering the roots while the babies killing each other over drugs and loots And between time find a summer job on a farm Miles hunched over, think McDonald's is hard? Up early like a slave, on his knees at 14 In the same tradition as his whole family in the middle of Orosi [Hook] Central California, hands buried in mud Peace in Orosi, send the farmers my love Screaming Peace in Visalia Peace out in Fresno Peace out in Bakersfield Peace in Modesto Peace out in Corcoran Peace near Wasco All of my manos out in the fields of Delano Peace to Central Cali, peace to Central Cali Peace to Central Cali, Central Cali [Verse 2] Before the farm workers united, the people united The grape strikes for the Mexican farmers just seemed right So they joined the Filipinos and a bond was born When manong Philip Vera Cruz and uncle Larry Itliong Took on the task needed to get the farmers even Watching brown hands digging 'til their fingers bleeding So they marched in march of '66 in Delano One foot in front of the other until Sacramento Just to get the wages they deserve The treatment they deserve, the people get served So whenever my family at the table We put a coin down and thanks those who made it able For my son to eat food, my girl to eat too We always give praises to where praises is due The farm workers over Jesus that sacrifice direct Cuz that sacrifice is in every bite I ingest For Orosi... [Hook] [Spoken Outro: Bambu] To all my brothers and sisters My manos and manas workin the fields This our history right here, California All the youth that had the opportunity to build with from Orosi I thank ya'll for the experience, man I hope uhh, I hope this little bit I do can put a spotlight on what ya'll go through out in the farms Central Cali Yeah Yeah Give Thanks Orosi, I'll see ya'll soon, man Fresno, whaddup? Modesto, whaddup? Delano, whaddup? Between LA to the Bay Area, man [Spoken Outro: Text-To-Speech] The strike began when the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, mostly Filipino farm workers in Delano, California, led by Philip Vera Cruz, Larry Itliong, Benjamin Gines and Pete Velasco, walked off the farms of area table-grape growers, demanding wages equal to the federal minimum wage