Maquiladora-single

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Listen here: Maquiladora (Winner in the Kansas City Songwriter’s Showcase Contest 1997)

Mario and Rosa moved with their family
Up to the border of Texas
Seeking a job, and a roof overhead
’some food and some hope for the future.
Early next morning, Mario went walking to the door of the shiny new plant
But they turned him away, as he heard them say,
“Do you have some young daughters at home?”
For only their young, teenaged daughter, Rita, was offered a job
In high heels and a dress, harassed and distressed
She’s working in the “mill of gold.”
In high heels and a dress, harassed and distressed
She’s working in the “mill of gold.”

Maquiladora, paying just nickels a day
Maquiladora, you’ve taken my dreams away.

(Interlude)

Michael and Barbara, struggle to make it
They’ve got Jason and Jessie to feed
Michael’s been working day in and day out, and overtime right here at Leeds.
The rumors were flying, but he couldn’t believe them,
Right here in the US of A,
But finally the truth came straight home to roost
When he got the pink slip in his pay.
“This plant’s making too little profit,” were the words from the manager’s mouth;
“Despite the big check in the stockholder’s hand, his factory is moving down South.”
“Despite the big check in the stockholder’s hand, this factory is moving down South.”

Begun as a dream, of building a team that straddles and bridges the border
“Twin factories paired, to do work that is shared” was forgotten in very short order.
With few taxes to pay and no EPA and no safety laws to go by,
What began as a dream, twisted into a scheme to avoid the public eye.
Our taxpayer’s dollars paying To build bridges that we cannot use,
Over toxic waste flowing down under the sand that is feeding the Rio Grande.
And the companies watch without even a blink
As both sides drink from river and sink
That is fed by the Rio Grande.