Lyrics

I am Javier Zamora, I am nine years old
My parents fled a civil war in El Salvador
To find a better life
They want me to have a better life
My father made the journey first when I was nearly two
Then four long years ago, también, my mother made it through
To a better life
They want me to have a better life

They left me with my Abuelitos
And my superhero toys
And my favorite Tía Mal
They said they didn’t have a choice

It’s gonna be okay, Mali said
It’s all gonna be okay

Don Dago was a family friend they thought could get me there
An experienced coyote, they could trust him with my care
Soon we will reunite
In La USA we will reunite
They told me the legend of Cadejo
That he’d protect me on my journey
A goat-like wolf with reddish eyes that look like coals burning
He will watch over me
Cadejo will watch over me

But Don Dago’s plan was over
Shortly after it began
And I guess Cadejo couldn’t find me
Drifting in a foreign land

It’s gonna be okay, said the strangers
It’s all gonna be okay
Va a estar bien
Todo va a estar bien

For seven weeks my family didn’t know I was alive
I was scared to death on the ocean, seeing soldiers guns
But somehow we survived
And Chino carried me
When I could walk no more
He tied my shoes and carried me

My mouth is dry, my stomach hurts
My lips are ripped, my skin is burnt
And I can’t stop the tears but I don’t want them to see me cry
Oh Cadejo, I wish that I could fly

It’s gonna be okay, Chino said
It’s all gonna be okay
Va a estar bien
Todo va a estar bien

On our third attempt to cross the Sonoran Desert
We made it undetected
Los Polleros called my parents to meet at a Tucson Texaco station
We’ll take you to your son, they said
Bring cash, we’ll take you to your son

I can’t believe we finally made it
Soon I’ll be with my mom and dad
I’ll miss my traveling companions, and all the times we had
We were a family
A pretend but real family

So I hugged Patricia and Carla first with a tearful goodbye
Then I put my arms around Chino’s waste and cried and cried
He called me hermanito, his little brother
I was his hermanito
And through my blurry eyes I looked at his
They were red like burning coals