The Tortilla Curtain

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Song Lyrics/ Text Passage Comparison

The Tortilla Curtain By T.C. Boyle	“Pal’ Norte” By Calle 13
by T.C. Boyle	“Pal’ Norte” By Calle 13

[ Verse 1: Calle 13]

[ Translation]

[Tortilla Curtain]

Sin brújula, sin tiempo, sin agenda, Inspirado por las leyendas Por historias empaquetadas en lata Por los cuentos que la luna relata Aprendí a caminar sin mapa A irme de caminata sin comodidades, sin lujo Protegido por los Santos y los brujos

Without compass, without time, without schedule, Inspired by the legends, By stories packaged in cans, By the tales I learned to tread without a map, To go for a walk without commodities, without luxuries, Protected by the saints and the witch doctors the moon recounts.

One day Candido ran into sixteen- year- old America. "You're America, and I'm going to take you with me when I go North." (pg.55) Both Candido and America ventured into their future. "He'd taken America from her father, so they could have a better life, so they could live in the North, where it was green [..] and everyone, even the poorest, had a house, a car, and a TV- and now he couldn't even put food in her mouth. Worse: She going to earn his keep."(pg.26)

In Pursuance of the American Dream 

This is a song done by a Puerto Rican group “Calle 13” in honor of all immigrants, in particular, the journey of those who cross into the United States, as "illegal" immigrants. "Pa’l Norte” is a Spanish slang term meaning “going north.” In the Tortilla Curtain novel, we read about Candido and America who sacrifice everything they have in order to live a better life."You're America, and I'm going to take you with me when I go North." (pg.55). This song is about immigrants illegally crossing the borders and the hardships faced by undocumented immigrants as they try to make their way to greater opportunities. Many immigrants from Latin American countries are actually from indigenous populations: they are so oppressed within their own nations and face nearly impossible economic challenges that they often decide to head north, sometimes to America."He'd taken America from her father, so they could have a better life, so they could live in the North, where it was green [..] and everyone, even the poorest, had a house, a car, and a TV- and now he couldn't even put food in her mouth. Worse: She going to earn his keep."(pg.26) Sadly, many undocumented immigrants come to America, with the illusion of living the American Dream; however, the reality of illegal immigration is that it is not as easy as they envisioned it. Once within the US, many undocumented immigrants face "racism" and "discrimination," especially the women."Beaners die." (pg.65) Because of their undocumented status, they are vulnerable to victimization, especially sexualized violence abuse. In the novel, we read about America being sexually abused by Jose Navidad which left her with permanent psychological scars. "What kind of life was it when you felt safe in the bushes, crouching to piss in the dirt like a dog? Was that what she'd left Tepoztlan for? Both the song "Pal' Norte" and the Tortilla Curtain novel, makes us wonder about all the risk factors that all undocumented immigrants face when illegally crossing the border, even if that means sacrificing their lives?