“Mission Bells” (words and music by Heidi Fosner)

Mission bells are silent tonight under the Santa Barbara moon

In stone and stuccoed old church walls stories are entombed

A secret history that won’t be told of those who came before

Into this land that once was Mexico not so long ago.

Chorus

Bienvenidos, vayan con Dios that you’re protected as you go

Into this land that once was Mexico not that long ago.

Maybe it is our destiny to conquer and to claim

They came for God, for unsaved souls, gold and the King of Spain

And history repeats itself as round and round we go

Not just here in the land that was Mexico not so long ago

Chorus

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On Sunday morning the sound of bells will be carried on the ocean breeze

Through this paradise of palm trees and cactus where mountains meet the sea

Let them ring for the dead, ring for the living, ring for all those things

That perhaps can not be helped, but can not be forgiven

Chorus

For those who are crossing the border I’ll say a prayer for you tonight

Under the silent shadow of the Mission bells beneath the pale Santa Barbara moonlight

 That laws and a wall to the north would not stop this human flow

Into this land that once was Mexico not that long ago

Chorus