All my life been an outsider, outlier
Spent years putting out all the divisive fires
Tactics to distract me from the grander plan
They used divide and conquer to divvy up our land
Then they raped our ancestors and called us Mexicans
Then had the nerve to call our presence foreign
And just ‘cause I don’t look the part doesn’t mean I’m not
My blood was spilled too when Tenochtitlan dropped
But my own people can’t even see past my skin
They can’t see the similar struggle that lies within
Too white for Latinos, too Latino for white people
Where do you go when both sides refuse to see you?
Not welcomed in my culture that was marginalized by others
‘cause I look like the conquistadors of our forefathers
And not welcomed by the culture that kept us down either
‘cause my blood runs deep with the fire of Mexico’s leaders

[Chorus:]
Say you understand the struggle
But you’re not seeing the full image
I’m one of you, one of you
Say you’re fighting for our people
But don’t think I am too?
I’m one of you, one of you
Say I don’t act Latino
Which stereotype don’t I adhere to?
I’m one of you, one of you
Look at me like I’m different
‘cause my pigment doesn’t match yours
But I’m one of you, one of you

And I don’t speak the language, my biggest regret
One abuela never learned English so we don’t connect
But I tried my best to at least see things from her perspective
I hope she tried to do the same for me, oh well I guess
Given myself to a cause filled with people who couldn’t care less
Unless I tattooed Huitzilopochtli across my chest
Always trying to compare who is the better Mexican
Whatever happened to just trying to be a decent human?
We’re not alone in our struggles so we shouldn’t act like this
This division amongst our ranks keeps the conquerors ahead
At the end of the day we’re just trying to keep a roof over our head
Sometimes success is the greatest form of protest
I’m not trying to make a fan, just trying to make amends
Experience lit a fire under all of us I guess
Way more than about color if our paths intersect
But regardless of the borders in place we can all connect
I’m a believer of a different type of “us vs. them”
It’s a war between employees and the ones who sign the checks
It’s a war between the educated and wilfully ignorant
It’s a war between nature’s siblings told they were different
It’s a war between the belief in god and the belief in humans
It’s a war between dollars and the wallet they go in
It’s a war between men and men carried against women
It’s a war between not staying silent and a Facebook rant
You and I are the same, at least I'd like to think
Cuz if you cut me I bleed, stab my back and I fall to my knees
Went from kings to peasants feeding the families of this nation
And the thanks we got was in the form of Repatriation
And I’ll be damned if I forget my grandparents struggle
Grandpa worked in the fields, that’s where I get my hustle
Grandma had a restaurant off First street in East Los
Made her bread and butter slanging tacos to vatos
I pass it five days a week on my way home
Cruising through the streets blasting music off my phone
Thinking about the strength they must’ve had to leave their homes
In the hopes that ours would treat us better when we’re grown
And I’m down for my people, in ways you’ll never know
Cuz if the cops ask where my family’s from I say Mexico
Cuz I’m trying to lift my gente up from these throes
‘till we can all take a seat on our own throne
And just cuz I don't speak the language doesn't mean I'm less than
Cuz neither did our ancestors till the Spaniards landed
A culture just as rich in successes as oppressions
They kept us down for so long we’re finally growing restless
If you don’t think we’ll rise up all I’ll say is “si se puede!”
We’ll go from being know as laborers to presidentes
Gonna take down the borders and set the world a message
Cuz if I’ve got this privilege I’m using it to our benefit

[Chorus]