In the High Sierras, camped were the soldiers
And a young soldada who valiantly fought
Side by side with Francisco Villa, Adelita
I’m far from my home now, a Texacan soldier
It’s not for fortune or risk to the battlefield I fight
I fell in love with Adelita with my very soul
We’ll stand in arms this night
She said, “Johnny, if I should die in battle
And my body be left in the Sierranea
My love, my love, in God’s name
Fight on, and remember me
That my blood will not have been spilled in vain”
On horseback, a carbine full and at her side
Over her blouse, cartridges filled her bandoleras
Side by side, into battle we rode, Villistas, my Adelita
We met the enemy in the Zamoran mountains
From their bullets, many of our soldiers died
And wounded, I lay fallen with my comrades
As Adelita stood above us
Firing her rifle till the gunpowder turned her hand black
The sky was blue, ‘neath the cannon, the earth trembled
I watched as a bullet pierced my love’s side
She fell amidst the brothers and sisters
Smoke and empty sky in her eyes
Adelita, my love
Adelita, my wife
Adelita, my comrade
My life
They’ll remember your name when freedom fills the Sierranea
I’ll remember the warmth of your skin against mine
Tonight, I lay in the mountains with the campesinos
My mind at peace from the vows I’ve made
I know I’ll never see Texas again
Your portrait I carry deep in my breast pocket
My rifle firing into the campaña
I ride with you ’round my heart
Protected from this death by beauty