[Verse 1]
Wade into the river, through the rippling shadow waters
Steal across the thirsty border, bracero
Come bring your hungry body to the golden fields of plenty
From a peso to a penny, bracero

[Chorus]
Oh, welcome to California
Where the friendly farmers will take care of you

[Verse 2]
Come labor for your mother, for your father and your brother
For your sisters and your lover, bracero
Come pick the fruits of yellow, break the flowers from the berries
Purple grapes will fill your bellies, bracero

[Chorus]
Oh, welcome to California
Where the friendly farmers will take care of you

[Verse 3]
And the sun will bite your body, as the dust will dry you thirsty
While your muscles beg for mercy, bracero
In the shade of your sombrero, drop your sweat upon the soil
Like the fruit your youth can spoil, bracero

[Chorus]
Oh, welcome to California
Where the friendly farmers will take care of you

[Verse 4]
When the weary night embraces, sleep in shacks that could be cages
They will take it from your wages, bracero
Come sing about tomorrow with a jingle of the dollars
And forget your crooked collar, bracero

[Chorus]
Oh, welcome to California
Where the friendly farmers will take care of you

[Verse 5]
And the local men are lazy, and they make too much of trouble
Besides we'd have to pay them double, bracero
Ah, but if you feel you're falling, if you find the pace is killing
There are others who are willing, bracero

[Chorus]
Oh, welcome to California
Where the friendly farmers will take care of you