Victor Jara

Words by Adrian Mitchel, melody by Arlo Guthrie
Rise Up Singing chapter: Struggle, p.219
Chords:
D - G D / G D Em G / A7sus A7 D -
or
D - G D / G D Em G / A7 G D -

Victor Jara of Chile lived like a shooting star
He fought for the people of Chile with his songs and his guitar
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

Victor Jara was a peasant, worked from a few years old
He sat upon his father's plow and watched the earth unfold
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

When the neighbors had a wedding, or one of their children died
His mother sang all night for them with Victor by her side
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

He grew up to be a fighter against the people's wrongs
He listened to their grief and joy and turned them into songs
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

He sang about the copper miners and those who worked the lands
He sang about the factory workers and they knew he was their man
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

He campaigned for Allende, working both night and day
He sang, "Take hold your brothers' hands, the future begins today"
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

Then the generals seized Chile, they arrested Victor then
The caged him in a stadium with five thousand frightened men
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

Victor stood in the stadium, his voice was brave and strong
And he sang for his fellow prisoners til the guards cut short his song
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong

They broke the bones in both his hands, they beat him on the head
They tore him with electric shocks and then they shot him dead
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong