Cortez The Killer

Indigo Girls · Other Songs - Indigo Girls

He came dancing across the water

With his galleons and guns

Looking for a new world

And a palace in the sun



And on the shore lay montezuma

With it's coca leaves and pearls

In his halls he often wondered

With the secrets of the world



And the subjects gathered round him

Like the leaves around the trees

His coat of many colors

For the angry gods to see



And the women all were beautiful

And the men stood straight and strong

He offered life with sacrifice

So that others might go on



Yeah



Now hate was just a legend

And war was never known

The people worked together

And they lifted many stones



And they carried them across the flatland

But they died along the way

(many lives were lost)

Built up with their bare hands

What we still can't do today

(many lives were lost)



And I know she's living there

And loves me to this day

I can't remember when

Or how I lost my way

Ah-oh

Ah-oh

Ah-oh

Ah-oh



He came dancing across the water

Cortez, cortez

What a killer

Cortez The Killer

Indigo Girls' 'Cortez The Killer' stands as a defining track from their early career, blending folk-rock instrumentation with the duo's signature harmonies. Recorded during a pivotal era for the group, the song captures the raw energy and social consciousness that characterized their work in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The composition features a driving rhythm section that propels the narrative forward, while Amy and Emmy Nixey's vocal interplay delivers a message of empowerment and resilience. As a staple of their discography, the recording exemplifies the band's ability to fuse personal storytelling with broader cultural themes, cementing their reputation as influential voices in the alternative folk movement.