My name is Juan Bedina A vaquero once was I Now I live in the air above the pepper trees And where are all the cattle That belonged to Captain Danna They are blown away like ashes in the California breeze
Once I roamed the foothills And I swung the long riata I worked the hide and tallow trade in a land I loved I rode in wooden stirrups And the dust raised by my ponies Was smoke from my alter offered up to God above
Chorus: Todovia estoyaqui I am still here Todavia estoyaqui my soul is dancing in the moonlight I mingle with each grain of sand In a land that is my birthright I am still here Todovia estoyaqui I am still here Todovia estoyaqui
In the canyon An U Blanca And the willows by the creek bank I chased wild cattle through the live-oak trees Cross valley, ridge and mesa And the hills baked oh so yellow My ponies sleek and dancing were all a man would need
CHORUS
In the fog of early mornin' Or the misty haze at twilight Beyond the sagging ruin of these adobe walls You may see me in the dust That shimmers in the half-light Or hear me in the whisper of the grass so green and tall