Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Cortez the Killer (Live 1991) Lyrics

He came dancin' across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun

On the shore lay Montezuma
With his coca leaves and pearls
In his halls, he often wandered
With the secrets of the worlds

His subjects gathered 'round him
Like the leaves around a tree
In their clothes of many colors
For the angry Gods to see

And the women all were beautiful
Men stood straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So others could go on

Hate was just a legend
War was never known
People worked together
And they lifted many stones

They carried them to the flatlands
And they died along the way
But they built up with their bare hands
What we still can't do today

And I know she's living there
And she loves me to this day
I still can't remember how
Or where I lost my way

He came dancin' across the water
Cortez, Cortez, what a killer
Yeah, dancin' across the water
Cortez, Cortez, what a killer, killer

Yeah, dancin' across the water
Cortez, Cortez, what a killer