Cortez the Killer 
*as preformed by the Indigo Girls* 
(in 4/4 time) 
This is a combo of two versions. 
----------------------------------- 
Em   D   Am    x2 
 
Em 
He came dancing across the water 
         D 
With his galleons and guns 
Am 
Looking for a new world and a place in the sun 
Em 
And on the shore lay Montezuma 
          D 
With it's coco leaves and pearls 
Am 
In it's halls he often wandered with the secrets of the world 
Em 
And his subjects gather 'round him 
         D 
Like the leaves around the trees 
Am 
Clothed in many colors for the angry gods to see 
Em 
And the women all were beautiful 
        D 
And the men stood straight and strong 
Am 
He offered life and sacrifice so that others might go on 
 
jam on 
* Em  D  Am * 
for a few times 
 

Em 
Now hate was just a legend 
    D 
And war was never known 
Am 
The people worked together and they lifted many stones 
Em 
And they carried them across the flatlands 
D 
But they died along the way 
Am 
Built up with their bare hands what we still can do today 
      Em 
And I know she's living there 
    D 
And loves me to this day 
Am 
Can't remember when or how I lost my way 
 
jam on * 
Em  D  Am * 
for awhile...stop when it feels right 
 

Em 
There was this man, he wasn't satisfied 
  D 
He crossed all the oceans 
                                Am 
to find something else with his greedy hands and his 

raping heart and his mind that said war to take everything 
Em 
He's looking down now 

And I'm sorry for every time I raped you 

And I'm sorry for every time I sold you 
Am 
And I'm sorry for every time I bought you 

And I'm sorry for every time I hurt you 

And I'm sorry for every time 

I'm sorry for every time 

I'm sorry for every time 
Em 
He came dancing across the waters 
D 
Cortez, Cortez 
Am           {stop} 
What a killer