Sara Lee Guthrie & Caitlin Stubbs - Victor Jara

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 

Repeat first verse

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words by Adrian Mitchell, music by Arlo Guthrie