Caesar called for a census, boss wants to know what's goin’ on
So Joseph and Mary hit the road, with Mary nigh on nine months gone
Now you know we're talkin' 'bout a hell of a walk and they had no place to stay
They tried the inns and the hotels, but the message was plain as day (you get)

No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here

Juan and his Juanita, and a baby boy they'd named Miguel
On the other side of the line it's heaven, on this side it's a livin' hell
So you do what it takes and you pull up stakes
Tryin' to escape the drought
But when you get to the border the INS has got the welcome wagon out (you get)

No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here

Now you got your haves and your have-nots, almost nothin' in between
Religions that preach about lovin' your brother, but they're run by the foldin' green
Now there's a lot of folks looking over the edge of that plate we've piled so high
When they all decide to come over the border, time to kiss it all goodbye (there'll be)...

No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here

No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here
No refuge, no respite, no sanctuary here

No sanctuary here...