Companeros Lyrics

The good ship Granma lies at anchor in the harbour Waiting for the evening tide to bring high water It's bound for Cuba she must go across the Gulf of Mexico And the Caribbean ocean She's carrying a human cargo, Eighty-three good compañeros Each one burning with determination to be free Against Batista, the Fidelistas Courage was their only armour As they fought at Fidel's side With Che Guevara Ten days out from Mexico these compañeros Landed on the Cuban beach Los Colorados Fidel said, this year will see our country and its people free Or else we will be martyrs We've only guns enough for twenty, The enemy has arms a-plenty Meet him then defeat him and he'll keep us well supplied Against Batista, the Fidelistas Courage was their only armour As they fought at Fidel's side With Che Guevara Five weeks later in the Canyon Del Arroyo The people's army numbered eighteen compañeros Hungry, weak, but unafraid, They're learning Revolution's trade In the high Sierra Maestra And in the mountains winds are blowing Bearing seeds of hope and sowing Crops in Cuban earth that mark the birth of victory On compañeros, to El Uvero! Courage was their only armour As they fought at Fidel's side With Che Guevara They fought their way across the peak of El Turquino Joined by peasant bands and men from Santiago They faced Batista's tanks and planes And drove them down into the plains From the high Sierra Maestra They drove the gangsters from Las Villas Straight across the Cordilleras Santa Clara fell to Che Guevara and was free Against Batista, the Fidelistas Courage was their only armour As they fought at Fidel's side With Che Guevara The fire lit on that Cuban beach by Fidel Castro Shines all the way to Tierra del Fuego Its sparks are blown upon the breeze And men rise up from off their knees When they see the night is burning It blazes up in Venezuela, Bolivia and Guatemala Lights the road that men must go in order to be free On compañeros, Americanos! For a peoples' free America Fidel has shown the way with Che Guevara