Born in Laredo

You look at me and I see what you see
Someone who comes to your country and takes all your jobs, who's living here illegally
Did I float on a raft across the Rio Grande?
Or hide under cardboard and hay in an old flatbed truck to steal into your land
You look at me and you think I run dope
A killer, my gang's name carved into my arm
Just a monster unworthy of hope
You look at me and think:
"He's not too bright; let him cut grass, bus dishes, shine shoes at the mall, clean the stalls at the Greyhound at night"
You wish that I'd never come from the country I'm from

But I'm born in Laredo
My sister was born in Fort Worth
Born in Laredo
American by birth
I went to school and I dreamed of a home and a car
And I'm born in Laredo
Every inch of the Texan you are

I look at you and I see a brick wall
Someone who's made up his mind based on just what he sees
And I see he sees nothing at all
'Cause I look at you
Do you know what I see
Someone who comes from a family that sailed long ago in search of a new life like me

Did they come here alone? Were they viewed with alarm
Did they work to the bone for their family
Dreaming of land and a small working farm?
If they came here today, I'd pray for their soul
And hope they'd run fast for they'd never get past the volunteer border patrol
My parents, they slept on the floor
And they hoped I had more

And I'm born in Laredo
Where I learned how to fight my own fights
Raised in Laredo
Beer and hotdogs and Friday Night Lights
My grandfather came
Made from a raft from a hood of a car
But I'm born in Laredo
Every inch of the Texan you are

We came to this country like you came to this country
And I'm born in Laredo
Every inch of the Texan you are