The Ants (cumbia) words: Betty Robles and Olaf, music: Jesús (Lolo) Rivas
Thousands of ants make a tunnel. They mine gold and silver. Then the fly comes and takes possession of it. Thousands of ants build a train. They build bridges and lay a rail.
Then the fly comes and rides in it. Thousands of ants make a cake. They put candles and honey on it. Then the fly comes and eats it. Thousands of ants take up arms. They kill the fly and destroy his empire. They strike and take power. Thousands of ants will overcome.
The Ants and Liberty come from Servicio Desarrollo y Paz (SEDEPAC) in Coahuila, Mexico, where hundreds of activists have been fired for organizing in the maquiladoras, and where over a hundred thousand women toil in unsafe conditions for starvation wages. The Ants is sung to children to teach them about the struggle, and Liberty is sung by workers as they organize.