Two looks at Juarez, Mexico

Brad Colerick's "Juarez":


"I was done out of money
I was dry as a bone
Standing on a corner in Juarez, Mexico
Outside Camila's Cantina
I caught a glimpse of hope
When a gentle man began to speak to me

He said he used to travel to El Norte
To work the San Joaquin
A locket from his mother would ease the suffering
There were days as dry as ashes
And nights as cold as hell
But faith and desperation served him well

If you see him you will know him
By the look upon his face
His left eye kinda twinkles
From the light of peace and grace
He said he speaks in any language
But he favors Español
Oh, Jesus lives in Juarez, Mexico

Well I could see it in his fingers
I could hear it in his voice
The years had not been kind to one
Who clearly had no choice
He was baptized in the waters
Of the restless Rio Grande
Now he's found a peaceful place to call his home

If you see him you will know him
By the look upon his face
His left eye kinda twinkles
From the light of peace and grace
He said he speaks in any language
But he favors Español
Oh, Jesus lives in Juarez, Mexico

Then it suddenly came clear to me
Just who this wise man was
I wondered if I'd get to see
The miracles he does
So I started in to tell him just where my life went wrong
But it didn't seem to matter anymore

If you get down to El Paso
Be sure to cross the border
Especially if you need
To get your life in order
Outside Camila's Cantina
That's where you can save your soul
Oh, Jesus lives in Juarez, Mexico

If you see him you will know him
By the look upon his face
His left eye kinda twinkles
From the light of peace and grace
He said he speaks in any language
But he favors Español
Oh, Jesus lives in Juarez, Mexico

He can speak in any language
Pero el mas prefierde Español
Oh, Jesus lives in Juarez, Mexico"

Tom Russell's "Juarez":

"Juarez, I couldn't sleep tonight
Juarez, you made me weep tonight
Across the Rio Grande, I saw your poverty lights
Goodnight, Juarez, good night

Juarez, I used to paint the town
Now you've gone and turned it upside down
Into a dark and bloody battleground
Goodnight, Juarez, goodnight

Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows
Just caught the last bus out
She said, "Seven sorrows used to fit the bill
But I'd need ten thousand now"

The mariachi horns are silent
The guitars don't make a sound
The children have all disappeared
Or they're hiding underground

The tourist market's empty now
You wouldn't recognize this town
Why, they even tore the bull ring down
Goodnight, Juarez, good night

Vuela, vuela, palomita, you old ragged
And torn Dove of Peace
Fly across this burning desert
Where the bodies lie beneath

Bring me back one faded rose
A sign of love and hope
And drop it down on this broken city
Before it all goes up in smoke

Juarez, I had a dream today
The children danced as the guitars played
And all the violence up and slipped away
Goodnight, Juarez, goodnight"