Mr. Wu works in the laundry, and his wife sews in the shop
And each and every wrinkle tells a tale
A survivor of the hard times, and a fighter all his life

But the twinkle in his eye has never failed
He puts a kettle on the table and he leans against the wall
He says excuse my English, but his words speak for us all


Because these hands have washed the clothes
These hands have served the food, heaven knows

My neck has felt the mobs rope and its been behind barbed wire
My arms have laid down railroad track
My back has been for hire

And these hands have fought injustice
And this soul is still on fire


Mmm, but Im still here
And Im going strong
And Im getting tire of proving I belong


Now Mrs. Gomez works the night shift in the pediatric ward
By day she cooks the meals for her own

New in the big city, she has never given up
And does her best to give her kids a home


Theres Mrs. Kim, who sells the produce on the corner of the square
The people pass by quickly, but we all know shes there


And so the story goes on to another generation
A page, another chapter being turned
Tomorrow is the struggle we face in anticipation

And yesterday our lessons we have learned

Johnny, hes a young boy who pumps gas to pay for school

His class is being cut back one by one
Now his father marched in Europe and Johns mother was in camp
And each shows off the battle scars theyve won

Some nights you hear raised voices that come drifting through the wall
But each knows deep inside them that what binds them binds us all


Because our hands have washed the clothes
You know our hands have served the food, heaven knows
And our neck has felt the mobs rope and its been behind barbed wire

Our arms have laid down railroad track
Our back has been for hire
And these hands will fight injustice

And our soul is still on fire

Mmm, but were still here

And were going strong
And were getting tired of proving we belong (x 6)