Video El Cortito de Malvina Reynolds 2025 Lyrics Lyrics

Malvina Reynolds - El Cortito Lyrics

It's the short hoe, it's the short hoe,
Field workers call it El Cortito,
There's only four states that allow it
And California is one.
It's Reagan's Industrial Safety Board
Goes hand in hand with the big landlord,
So the field workers stoop for an eight hour day,
Under the burning sun.

Chorus:
Bend down, Ronnie Handsome,
And manicure the land,
Bend down Mister Governor,
How I'd love to see you bend,
Moving along the endless rows
With the twelve inch hoe in your hand.

Jesus Serrato tells us,
That during his working time
He walked bent over like a sad gorilla,
Not like the human kind.
The back hurts, the neck hurts,
Muscles in the leg are sore,
You're all done in
And you can't work anymore.

(Chorus)

It's the short hoe, it's the short hoe,
Field workers call it El Cortito,
There's only four states that allow it
And California is one.
It's Reagan's Industrial Safety Board
Goes hand in hand with the big landlord,
So the workers stoop for an eight hour day,
Under the burning sun.

(Chorus)