Track 9: Somos Igual
Spanish and English
Artist: Regina Zavala
Written by: Regina Zavala
Performed by:
Vocals and Rhythm Guitar by Regina Zavala
Bass by Nate Graham
Drums by Chad Shaffer
Guitar by Dan Goett
Fiddle by Beth Davis
Background Vocals by Regina Zavala and Jenny Pape
Audio Link= https://rivertorivercommunityrecords.bandcamp.com/track/somo-igual
The bounty of “Egypt” brought many waves of immigration to Southern Illinois. The history of immigration and accepting residents of diverse backgrounds in Southern Illinois is, sadly, one fraught with violence, division, and injustice. Through acknowledging and confronting the historical record of this troubling history, Southern Illinois can learn to move forward together. From the first enslaved peoples of African and Native descent, to the Illinois Black Codes, the Trail of Tears, to racially-motivated violence, to attacks on businesses and workers, there is much to bear witness to. But, despite these challenges, people have come, stayed, and positively contributed to the communities and economies of Southern Illinois. “Somos Igual” speaks to the migrant experience of the last several decades—of coming to “Little Egypt” to work in the fields and the orchards. The first line associates the people with the migratory travels of the Monarch butterfly, and the coming to Southern Illinois from other lands. But, as Regina so eloquently sings, “por dentro, todos somos igual”: on the inside, we are all the same. -SD
I'm so very glad Regina is a part of this album. I’ve watched her perform for the last few years in Carbondale and have always thought her voice and song selection was thoughtful and beautiful. When I asked her to write a song, I wanted her unique experience as a person immigrating from Honduras to this area who became enmeshed into this community. The song she came up with is bigger than her own experience and includes several communities of people that come to this area for different reasons, and how ultimately, she says, inside we are all the same. She was incredibly adept at arranging how she wanted this song to flow, and working with her to create her vision was such a reward. -JP
Lyrics
Llegaron junto a las mariposas // they came with the butterflies
under the wings of their ancestors
they harvested the land
and made themselves a new home
Eoh, Eah,
por dentro, todos somos igual // on the inside, we are all the same x 2
Otros llegaron con los búhos // others came with the owls
con sed de sabiduría // with thirst of wisdom
otros no saben qué pasó // others don’t know what happened
they just landed in here
Eoh, Eah,
por dentro, todos somos igual x 2 // on the inside, we are all the same x 2
Mirá, que todos tenemos sueños // look, we all have dreams
no importan banderas, la raza o el sexo // no matter the flags, the race or sex
y llegamos al mismo lugar // we arrived in the same place
Little Egypt nos quiso albergar // Little Egypt gave us a shelter
una tierra peculiar de compleja humanidad // a peculiar land of complex humanity
nos hizo olvidar que existen fronteras // made us forget that there are borders
que las banderas poco enseñan // that flags don’t teach a thing
que después de la muerte, somos materia seca // that after death, there’s only dry matter
escucha mi letra // listen to this
no somos dueños del planeta // we don’t own the planet
solo vecinos en esta tierra // we’re neighbors on this earth
con sus retos y sus pruebas // among challenges and trials
las diferencias se vuelven estrechas // differences become so small
con café y buen ron // with good coffee and rum
nada mejor que un buen son // nothing better than a good song
olvidamos lo que es nación y cantamos esta canción // we forgot what a nation is and sang this song
Eoh, Eah,
por dentro, todos somos igual // on the inside, we are all the same
Eoh, Eah,
Todos somos igual // we are all the same
Eoh, Eah,
Todos somos, todos somos igual // we are all (x 2) the same