Corrido de Chualar
By Los Imperiales (Lily Records 2-B), Circa 1970
This corrido recounts the accidental death of 32 braceros on September 17, 1963. The tragedy occurred when the braceros’ bus collided with a freight train outside of Chualar in the Salinas Valley. The crash pushed Congress to terminate the Bracero Program in 1964 despite its strong support among farmers. The tragedy also became a powerful symbol of Mexican struggle during the Chicano Civil Rights Movement.
Spanish
Este corrido señores
Que yo les vengo a cantar
De las tragedias mayores
Que pasó allá por Chualar
Un autobús de braceros
Se atravesó a un tren de carga
Dejando sus pasajeros
En agonía muy amarga
Diecisiete de Septiembre
Año del 63
Lo tendremos muy presente
Iba un tren con rapidez
El chófer del autobús
Cuando llegó hasta el crucero
Dibujaron una cruz
Cincuenta y nueve braceros
Muy triste fue su destino
De mis hermanos de raza
No sabían que en el camino
Les pasaría una desgracia
Ya con esta me despido
Como las olas del mar
Así termina el corrido
La tragedia de Chualar
English
Gentlemen, this corrido
That I am going to sing
Is one of the biggest tragedies
That happen over by Chualar
A bus full of braceros
Crashed with a freight train
Leaving its passengers
In very bitter agony
17th of September
Year of ‘63
It is fresh in our minds
They were in a hurry
The bus driver
When he got to the crosswalk
He drew a cross sign
Fifty nine braceros
Their destiny was a sad one
Of my Brothers and countrymen
They didn’t know that on the way
A misfortune would happen to them
With this one I bid farewell
Like the ocean waves
This is how the corrido ends
The Tragedy of Chualar
More Labor Songs
El Bracero Mexicano Corrido de Dolores Huerta El Corrido de Delano
