YB! Release Show: Tear Down The Wall
OK now we're onto week two of releasing my show. I was going to release the second song in the set, but because there is a strong presence of ICE in Milwaukee, I think it is better to share my song, Tear Down The Wall.
I first wrote this song in 2018 originally all in English, but I edited it after visiting the border in 2024. In fact I’ll never forget when I tried to sing some of it in Spanish for the first time. I sang “Destrozen la pared en nuestros corazones” and everyone looked at me so weird. Then, I recalled muro was more appropriate - muro means wall, like a border, and pared means wall in a house. The moment I switched to muro, everyone cheered despite my charango being very desafinado.
During that time, I heard many stories of families braving the Darién Gap (a treacherous hike from Colombia to Panamá), a mother and daughter on La Bestia (trains traveling north in Mexico), and a father whose family got sequestered by a cartel in Mexico. I was so touched by what parents will sacrifice in order to have a shot at a better life despite not knowing what was on the other side.
As a nation and society, we have become so divided. There is a push to separate “ourselves” from “others.” Whether it’s a political affiliation, religion, socioeconomic class, or nationality, we are constantly building up walls. And so, I wrote a song to encourage each other to tear down the wall in our hearts. Below is the video and lyrics.
Tear Down the Wall!
Escuchen americanos,
it’s our turn to listen
to what migrantes endured
to leave home and come here
el camino fue difícil
The journey wasn’t easy
¡Los acogemos con ternura!
Let’s welcome them open arms!
Destrocen el muro en nuestros corazones
Tear down the wall in our hearts
Destrocen el muro en nuestros corazones
Tear down the wall in our hearts
Soñadores cruzaron
rıos selvas desiertos
Dreamers you journeyed through
Rivers, jungles, and deserts
Aguantaron hambre y sed
You endured hunger and thirst
¡Porfa vengan pa descansar!
Please come and rest!
Destrocen el muro en nuestros corazones
Tear down the wall in our hearts
Destrocen el muro en nuestros corazones
Tear down the wall in our hearts
Es muy complicado
When we don’t know everybody’s side
If we did, maybe our lives could entwine
El coraje y la fe
De los que vienen de afuera
Vencerán el odio de esta guerra
Entonces cantaremos el himno dentro de los almas
From the depths of our souls
Tear down the wall
Tear down the wall
Tear down the wall in our hearts
Destrocen el muro
Destrocen el muro
Destrocen el muro en nuestros corazones
Tear down the wall in our hearts
Destrocen el muro en nuestros corazones
Tear down the wall in our hearts
Destrocen el muro en nuestros corazones