The Corrido of Juan Bautista de Anza
Listen, my friends
To this wonderful
Necessary story
Of spiritual glory
Of a brave and prayerful captain
Who led a group of pioneers
To settle in Alta California
His name was Juan Bautista de Anza
He was born in Sonora, Mexico.
He had a love
Of this lovely happy land
Where his people might live and grow.
He gathered two hundred colonists
From different backgrounds and regions
He also had sixty-five soldiers
And a thousand head of cattle and sheep
They left their homes in January
Of the year seventeen seventy-five
They crossed the harsh desert and mystical mountains
Facing many dangers, many hardships.
They followed the trail of the missions
That were founded by Father Serra
They passed through Arizona and Baja
And reached the pristinely
Flowing coast of Monterey
There they met with the playful native people
Who welcomed them with gifts, food and song
They also saw the bay of San Francisco
Where they decided to build their new home
They founded the Presidio and Mission
On a hill overlooking the sea
They named it after Saint Francis
The patron saint of peace and charity,
Of simplicity,
Of love.
They were the first non-native settlers
Of that beautiful and rich land
They left a legacy of courage and hope
For the future generations to explore
And add to.
This is the end of my corrido
About the captain and his expedition.
Hope you enjoyed this song, my friends
And learned something from this well intended
Harmonious narration.
5.30.23
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