Transamerika

You left in style with Alberto and the motorcycle
We all came to say goodbye
With a wish, a hug, a laugh, and a bottle
And the girls a tear and a kiss
In the luggage you had two blankets and some mate
A 10 key and wire
A map, some books, a couple of addresses
Brothers, go with God!
Despite the falls and engine breakdowns
You crossed the continent
Scrounged for food and suffered cold and hunger
And abandoned the motorcycle in scraps
You spoke with resigned and impassive Indians
To miners with poisoned lungs
To lepers buried in the hospital down in hell
And you took them with you in memory
Farewell, don't lose yourself
Stay cheerful as you are
From the tracks of Temuco
To the peaks of Abancay
Keep your eyes wide open
Guard the last idea
We are getting ready to follow you
Transamerica
I heard that since then you have become great
Victorious commander and then minister
That you challenged the dictators and mocked them for years
And now the whole world knows you
But we like to think back to your desire to leave
To the motorcycle loaded with the impossible
To Alberto's jokes, to the thirst for adventure
It's a great way to say freedom
Farewell, it's the end of the line
I know you won't come back
To Quebrada de lo Yuro
The butchers were waiting for you
They showed you to the journalists
They said 'There he is'
The shadow reigns over Valle Grande
Transamerica
Farewell, sleep peacefully
Because it doesn't end here
The adventure has started again
The last idea remains intact
And somewhere in the world
There is someone like you
Preparing for a new journey
Transamerica