Deportee (plane Wreck At Los Gatos)
The Highwaymen · Other Songs - The Highwaymen
The oranges are packed in the creosote dumps.
They're flyin' them back to the Mexican border,
To save all their money then wade back again.
My father's own father, he waded that river:
Others before him had done just the same.
They died in the hills and they died in the valleys;
Some went to heaven without any name.
Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye Rosalita;
Adios mi amigo; Jesus y Maria.
You won't have a name when you ride the big airplane.
All they will call you, will be: "Deportee".
Some of us are illegal and others not wanted;
Our work contract's out and we have to move on.
Six hundred miles to the Mexican border.
They chase us like rustlers, like outlaws, like thieves.
Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye Rosalita;
Adios mi amigo; Jesus y Maria.
You won't have a name when you ride the big airplane.
All they will call you, will be: "Deportee".
The sky plane caught fire over Los Gatos canyon;
A fireball of thunder, it shook all the hills.
Who are all of these dear friends, scattered like dry leaves?
The radio said they were just 'Deportees'.
Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye Rosalita;
Adios mi amigo; Jesus y Maria.
You won't have a name when you ride the big airplane.
All they will call you, will be: "Deportee".
Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye Rosalita;
Adios mi amigo; Jesus y Maria.
You won't have a name when you ride the big airplane.
All they will call you, will be: "Deportee
About Deportee (plane Wreck At Los Gatos)
"The Highwaymen's 'Deportee (plane Wreck At Los Gatos)' stands as a stark narrative within their catalog of outlaw country storytelling. Recorded during the late 1960s, the track exemplifies the group's ability to blend traditional western themes with the gritty realities of the American South. The Highwaymen, a collective of legendary songwriters and performers, often focused on the lives of outlaws and the rugged individualism that defined their era. This specific recording captures the tension and drama of a plane crash, a common trope in their work that highlights the unpredictability of life on the road. The song's composition reflects the collaborative spirit of the group, weaving together verses that paint a vivid picture of the aftermath of such an event. It remains a significant piece in their discography, showcasing their mastery of the genre and their commitment to creating music that resonates with the struggles and triumphs of the common man.