He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for a new world
A palace in the sun
On the shore lay Montezuma
With his cocoa leaves and pearls
In his halls he often wondered
The secrets of the worlds
Oh, and his subjects gathered round him
Like leaves around a tree
In their clothes of many colors
For the angry gods to see
And the women all were beautiful
And the men stood straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So that others could go on

Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones
They carried them to the flat-lands
And they died along the way
They built up with their bare hands
What we still can't build today
And I know she's living there
And she loves me to this day
I can still remember when
Or how I lost my way

Cortez, Cortez
He came dancing across the water
Cortez, Cortez

Came dancing across the water

Came dancing across the water
Cortez, Cortez
Dancing across the water
Dancing across the water
Dancing across the water
Came dancing across the water
Cortez, Cortez
Dancing across the water
Dancing across the water
Dancing across the water


Lyrics submitted by majii, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Cortez, The Killer Lyrics as written by Neil Young

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Hipgnosis Songs Group

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Cortez the Killer (Neil Young cover) song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    I like it alot as well. I think Dave likes it mainly because it has very similar themes to "Don't Drink the Water", what with the whole conquerors wrongly taking land from natives and killing them and what not.

    deathbearon August 16, 2005   Link

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