Turn of the century, other side of the world

A family without, and uncertainty swirling

Left his home, said goodbye on a boat at fourteen

Those that he left, would no longer be seen

Crossing the water, alone on the sea

Without a language, without safe passage, searching for work,

A child among the masses, alone

A child and a man at fourteen

He cut hair in Texas…found love with a Mexican woman, a new world, a new family

Always in danger, the Klan saw a stranger, they burned down his shop, and they forced him to flee

A new world, a witness, a death on the water, she packed and they sailed

Through Panama - always in danger…yeah always in danger

Toward golden gates…but always in danger

A hundred year storm…nearly ended it all

The captain held on, and landed ashore

She told him…there’d be no more boats

She told him…there’d be no more running

She put down her bag, and planted her roots, yeah

A new world, a witness, a Mexican princess, a death on the water, a child at sea

Firebomb fascists, left in the ashes, a dangerous river, a family to be

When her feet hit the sand, she planted her roots, she planted her roots, yeah

Yeah when her feet hit the sand, she planted her roots, she landed

In San Diego…she planted her roots

Always in danger…Yeah she planted her roots whoa

Alone on the water…she planted her roots

Always in danger…Yeah she planted her roots whoa

Alone on the water…she planted her roots, in San Diego