Born In East L.A.

Album: Get Out of My Room (1985)
Play Video
  • Took a walk to the corner store
    Just to buy a loaf of bread and a box of s'mores
    Up pulled a guy in a yellow van
    Shiny gold badge flashing in his hand

    He said, alright all you mohuddles down here
    I want you all to hit the floor
    I got one thing to ask you and nothing more
    So answer in English, if you can
    Where were ya born, man

    Huh? where was I born?

    That's right, I said
    Where were ya born?

    Hey, are you one of those dudes who do horoscopes, man
    Hey, I'm a cancer with a bad moon rising

    Look here Alfago, watch my lips
    Where were ya born?

    I was born in East L.A
    Man, I was born in East L.A

    Oh yeah, you were born in East L.A
    Let's see your green card

    Huh? green card?
    I'm from East L.A

    Alright, then who's president of the United States

    Oh, that's easy, man
    That guy that used to be on death valley days, John Wayne

    Alright, let's go, come on

    Next thing I know, I'm in a foreign land
    People talkin' so fast, I couldn't understand
    There was nobody there to lend a helping hand
    I was cold, it was dark where is a burger stand

    I want to go back to east L.A
    I wish I was back in East L.A
    I don't belong here in downtown t.j.
    Cause I was born in East L.A, ole

    I crawled under barbed wire, swam across a stream
    Rode in six different trucks packed like a sardine
    Walked all day in the burning sun
    Now I know what it's like to be born to run

    Up ahead was the promised land
    Shining like a star just beyond my hand
    All I could see was a golden door
    I looked up, a sign said five billion sold

    And I was back in East L.A
    Yes, I was back in East L.A
    You know I'm never gonna stray
    Cause I was born in East L.A, oh L.A

    East L.A Writer/s: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, RICHARD MARIN
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Tim From La from East L.a.Just to buy a loaf of bread and a box of s'mores

    Is actually.

    Just to buy a loaf of bread and a box of smokes.

    As for
    (I looked up, a sign said five billion sold)

    It is

    (I looked up, a sign said five zillion sold (tinyurl.com/mu23prxu ) ) The 5 Zillion sign used to be on the corner of Soto St and Whittier Blvd.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Lita Ford

Lita FordSongwriter Interviews

Lita talks about how they wrote songs in The Runaways, and how she feels about her biggest hit being written by somebody else.