[Intro] Yeah… L.A., homie East side, west side Pero escucha… This ain’t Hollywood, ese This is home [Verse 1] Grew up where mamá kept the curtains closed “Trucha, mijo,” every time somebody slowed Tío got no papers but he works all day Twenty years here, still they call him “illegal” anyway So when a black truck turns onto our street Abuela stops talking, everybody freeze “¿Quién es, mijo?” — nah, just Amazon But for three damn seconds, we thought somebody gone I learned two languages before I learned fear English at school, español right here “Yes ma’am” downtown, “qué onda, carnal?” Back on the block where the murals cover walls Homies yell “órale,” Chevy sitting low Cumbia from the house, Dre out the stereo Palm trees, sunshine — looks bonito outside But mamá got documents hidden bedside [Pre-Chorus] Aguas, aguas Somebody at the door Mamá says tranquilo But she checking it twice more This is L.A. Where the sunshine lies Everybody sees the palm trees Nobody sees mamá cry [Chorus] This is L.A., mi vida, my home Brown skin, two languages, never alone L.A., L.A., corazón in the street Family at the table, helicopters over me L.A., L.A., órale, we ride California sun with a fear we hide They see Hollywood, money and stars We see familia trying not to get torn apart [Verse 2] Little sis asks, “Can they take papi away?” What the hell you tell a twelve-year-old today? “He ain’t done nothing, mija, finish your food” While mamá turns down another piece of news Some homies stopped showing up to class Somebody’s father got picked up last week fast Teacher says college, chase that degree But half the damn room thinking “could that be me?” Carnal works construction, uncle washes cars Prima wants nursing, dreaming big under stars Everybody hustles, everybody pays Taxes, rent, groceries — still counting days Then Skid Row hits when we head downtown Fentanyl got bodies folded to the ground Five-star hotel just a block away That’s L.A., homie — heaven and decay Lowriders shining, murals tell names Candles on sidewalks for kids we can’t save Gang lines still cut through pieces of town But mamá says, “Mijo, don’t let this place pull you down” [Pre-Chorus] Aguas, aguas Chopper in the sky Abuela says “Dios mío” I tell her we alright This is L.A. Where the sunshine lies Everybody sees the palm trees Nobody sees mamá cry [Chorus] This is L.A., mi vida, my home Brown skin, two languages, never alone L.A., L.A., corazón in the street Family at the table, helicopters over me L.A., L.A., órale, we ride California sun with a fear we hide They see Hollywood, money and stars We see familia trying not to get torn apart [Bridge] Yo soy de aquí Pero sangre de allá Born in California With México in mamá One cousin got papers One cousin does not Same blood, same table Different fear when somebody knocks “Simón, carnal” That’s just how it goes Keep the Chevy clean Keep your head down low But how long, hermano You supposed to live scared? When your whole damn life And your familia are here? [Verse 3] I love this city, don’t get it confused Dodgers cap low, Cortez on my shoes Tacos at midnight, cousins out back Old-school records and a Cadillac Sunday with abuela, carne on the grill Kids running wild up and down the hill That’s the L.A. nobody puts on TV Brown families laughing like the world is free And maybe that’s why we still call it home Even when somebody makes you feel you don’t belong Porque somos de aquí, understand that clear We built a whole life, our memories are here So when mamá worries, I tell her “aquí estoy” When tío comes home, you can hear the whole house rejoice Not gangsta fantasy, not Hollywood lights Just familia trying to make it through another night [Final Chorus] This is L.A., mi vida, my home Brown skin, two languages, never alone L.A., L.A., corazón in the street Family at the table, helicopters over me L.A., L.A., órale, stand tall From Boyle Heights murals to the downtown walls They see California, beaches and stars We see sueños, miedo, familia and scars L.A., L.A. Mi barrio, mi gente L.A., L.A. Aquí para siempre Palm trees above us Concrete below Mamá says “vámonos” But where would we go? [Outro] Where would we go, ese? This is home. Esta es nuestra casa. L.A.
