Esteban sinkin' into the heart of the barrio 

He ain't got no money all he got are the clothes that are on his back 

Two cigarettes left can't afford a pack 

He's been alone since he was about six 

That's when his grandmother died, all his mother cared about was turning tricks 

If she was ever home she'd just beat him to shit 

He wanted to hang out with the boys down on the corner 

His grandmother made him promise he'd never do that 

She said all that those boys were "oh they're just junkies and killers" 

But he was alone so he had to take his promise back 



Esteban went to them late one day 

He pleaded please help me I got nowhere to stay 

And no one to love, and no one loves me 

They wanted to help most of them had been there 

To hell and back they knew the boy needed a prayer 

So they gave him a chance something that he'd never seen 

They showed him off to everyone all around the neighborhood 

They had him run some shit to prove his loyalty 

When he beat up a couple of Flying Dutchmen to help protect Maria 

Mother Pedro said, "Son, welcome to our family" 



They Christened him Taurito one day in July 

When Pedro hugged him, Taurito he started to cry 

Nobody had done that since his grandmother was alive 

His new sister Maria said she was so proud of him 

They fucked all night but it wasn't a sin 

He held her and she held him 



Hangin' out on rooftops in Washington Heights 

His brothers taught him how to shoot and fight 

They laughed and drank wine 'til daylight 

Acting tough like some street corner matadors 

Taurito's brothers taught him how to score 

With the downtown junkies and them uptown whores 



That's when the trouble started comin' down 

The Shamrocks were movin' in from midtown 



Taurito on the corner with a 40 in his hand 

A .38 in his pocket he was gonna make sure that they understand 

That he's a real man 

Pedro took him aside and said, "I'm so proud of you 

But you got to take cover when they start to shoot 

That's what protection's for, son you've never seen a war" 



Meet down at the bodega at half past ten 

Pedro made sure everyone knew the plan 

Before they stab us we gotta shoot them 

Fireworks down on the avenue 

All the boys they're bracin' for a fight 

First shot rings out at midnight 



Taurito took two in the back of the head 

By the time he hit the ground he was already dead 

In a pool of blood, a couple drops added to the flood 

Pedro fell to his knees and cried "La Virgin, 

Why did You take my baby boy his soul was so clean 

Why couldn't You take me?" 

A hush fell over Washington Heights 

A silence amidst all the hustles and all the street fights 

Never again did the moon ever shine as bright 

Those crazy Latin Knights