Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems  

El Cortito

Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1973 Schroder Music Company, renewed 2001.

It's the short hoe, it's the short hoe,
Field workers call it El Cortito,
There's only four states that allow it
And California is one.
It's Reagan's Industrial Safety Board
Goes hand in hand with the big landlord,
So the field workers stoop for an eight hour day,
Under the burning sun.

Chorus:
Bend down, Ronnie Handsome,
And manicure the land,
Bend down Mister Governor,
How I'd love to see you bend,
Moving along the endless rows
With the twelve inch hoe in your hand.

Jesus Serrato tells us,
That during his working time
He walked bent over like a sad gorilla,
Not like the human kind.
The back hurts, the neck hurts,
Muscles in the leg are sore,
You're all done in
And you can't work anymore.

(Chorus)

It's the short hoe, it's the short hoe,
Field workers call it El Cortito,
There's only four states that allow it
And California is one.
It's Reagan's Industrial Safety Board
Goes hand in hand with the big landlord,
So the workers stoop for an eight hour day,
Under the burning sun.

(Chorus)

Malvina Reynolds songbook(s) in which the music to this song appears:
---- [none]

Other place(s) where the music to this song appears:
---- Broadside No. 126 (January-June 1974)
---- The Folknik (San Francisco), January/February 1974 issue

Malvina Reynolds recording(s) on which this song is performed:
---- [none]