I speak to you in jesus’ name
as jesus speaks through me,
the evil we do can’t be blamed upon
our destiny
i have walked through the valley of death row
to the shore
i have stumbled through silvery waters to my saviour,
my salvador
Salvador
It took me for years to learn
i was in prison not in church,
and two more to begin the book of my soul’s search
Sal & salvador
Time is an ocean of endless tears
Sal
A wild boy from the streets of the barrio
the orphan form the hill of mayaguez
Salvador
And when i wrote my story
the words flew from the page
and my soul in solitary
escaped its iron cage
Sal & salvador
Time is anocean of endless tears
Sal
Mama, i got your letter today
the next time that you write i’ll be transferred
far away,
i’m leaving greenhaven’s towers of stone
where the latin population will soon be minus one.
Sal & salvador
Time is an ocean of endless tears
Sal
I know how hard it’s been for you these many years,
you say the aguinaldo makes you dream of home
where once we strolled the beach at el malecon
go back don’t you worry, i am your grown-up son.
Salvador
The politics of prison are a mirror of the street
the poor endure oppression
the police control the state
Salvadorcorrectional facility
that’s what they call this place
but look around and you will see
a policy of race
Sal
a forest and a prison
where the snow and the guards are white
Salvador
If you want to keep your sanity
you’ll teach yourself to write.
Salvador
You were a child of sixteen
with a twelve-year-old mind
you came here numb and battered
from the streets i left behind,
Sal
I’ll take the evil in me
and turn it into good,
though all your institutions
never thought i could
so now i turn to say goodbye
Salvador
I’ll keep your image in my eye
Sal & salvador
I turned around to say goodbye
Sal, esmeralda & salvador
I’ll keep your image with me till the day i die.
Salvador
Time is an ocean of endless tears.