dust and diesel

battered buses jammed up to the roof

dust and diesel the prevailing themes

farmer sleeping on the truck in front

feet trailing over like he's trolling for dreams

smiling girl directing traffic flow

45 strapped over cotton print dress

marimba-brown and graceful limbs

give me a moment of loneliness

dust and diesel

rise like incense from the road

smoke of offering

for the revolution morning

headlights pick out fallen sack of corn

one lone tarantula standing guard

we pull up and stop and she ambles off

discretion much the better part of cars

rodrigo the government driver jumps out

he's got chickens who can use the feed

we sweep the asphalt on our hands and knees

fill up his trunk with dusty yellow seeds

dust and diesel

rise like incense from the road

smoke of offering

for the revolution morning

guitars and rifles in blue moonlight

soldiers stretched out on sparkling grass

engine broke down

they took us in

now we make music for the time to pass

tired men and women raise their voice to the night

hope the fragile bloom they've grown will last

pride and passion and love and fear

burning hearts burning boats of the past

dust and diesel

rise like incense from the road

smoke of offering

for the revolution morning