Cortez The Killer
Indigo Girls · Other Songs - Indigo Girls
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.

