Victor Jara of Chile
Lived like a shooting star
He fought for the people of Chile

With his songs and his guitar
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong


Victor Jara was a peasant
He worked from a few years old
He sat upon his father's plow

And watched the earth unfold
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong


Now when the neighbors had a wedding
Or one of their children died
His mother sang all night for them

With Victor by her side
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong


He grew up to be a fighter
Against the people's wrongs
He listened to their grief and joy

And turned them into songs
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong


He sang about the copper miners
And those who worked the land
He sang about the factory workers

And they knew he was their man
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong


He campaigned for Allende
Working night and day
He sang

Take hold of your brothers' hand
You know the future begins today
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong


Then the generals seized Chile
They arrested Victor then

They caged him in a stadium
With five-thousand frightened men
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong


Victor stood in the stadium
His voice was brave and strong

And he sang for his fellow prisoners
Till the guards cut short his song
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong


They broke the bones in both his hands
They beat him on the head

They tore him with electric shocks
And then they shot him dead
His hands were gentle, his hands were strong