SAL 
I speak to you in Jesus's name 
As Jesus speaks through me, 
The evil we do can't be blamed upon our destiny 
I have walked through the valley of death-row to the shore 
I have stumbled through silvery water to my savior, my Salvador! 

SALVADOR 
It took me four years to learn 
I was in prison not in church. 
And two more to begin the book of my soul's search. 

SAL & SALVADOR 
Time is an ocean of endless tears 

SAL 
A wild boy from the streets of El Barrio 
An orphan from the hills of Mayagüez 

SALVADOR
And when I wrote my story 
The words flew from the page 
And my soul in solitary 
Escaped its iron cage. 

SAL & SALVADOR 
Time is an ocean of endless tears 

SAL
Mama, I got your letter today 
The next time that you write I'll be transferred far away. 
I'm leaving Greenhaven's towers of stone 
Where the Latin population will soon be minus one. 

SALVADOR 
Time is an ocean of endless tears. 

SAL 
I know how hard it's been for you these many years, 
You say the Aguinaldo makes you dream of home 
Where once we strolled the beach at El Malecon 
Go back don't you worry, I am your grown-up son. 

SALVADOR 
The politics of prison are a mirror of the street. 
The poor endure oppression 
The police control the state. 

Correctional facility 
That's what they call this place 
But look around and you will see 
The politics of race. 

SAL 
A forest and a prison 
Where the snow and guards are white 

SALVADOR 
If you want to keep your sanity 
You'll teach yourself to write. 

You were a child of sixteen 
With a twelve-year-old mind 
You came here numb and battered 
By the streets I left behind 

SAL 
I'll take the evil in me 
And turn it into good, 
Though all your institutions 
Never thought I could 
So now I'll turn to say goodbye 

SALVADOR 
I'll keep your image in my eye 

SAL & SALVADOR 
I turn around to say goodbye 

SALVADOR 
I'll keep your image with me till the day I die 

SAL & SALVADOR 
Time is an ocean of endless tears