D                     G               D         - G - D        G              D               - G
1.   Maria was born in the country,           she loved her homeland.
D                     G                D    - G - D                            G                D
    Maria was from a poor family,       for their girl they had greater plans.
G                                                                         D
    Across the sea, not yet twenty, sailed our Maria,
G                                                                          D
    a man to see, perhaps marry, dreams our Maria,
A                    G   - A               G                 D
    this was to be        eventually for our Maria.
 
  D                         G                D        - G - D               G                D    - G
2.    Maria made plans for the future,           she had sons to her man.
D                     G                 D                  - G - D               G             D
    Maria grew sad as the years passed,            she did not understand.
A                      G      A                           G  A    D
    You must believe me, though its not easy, trust in me,
A                           G  A                             G   A  D
    my life's been wasted, there's nothing sacred I can see.
A                             G  A                             G  A     D
    Though we're together, it seems we've never known the way,
A                           G  A                          G   A   D
    these lives we started, now broken hearted everyday.
 
  D               G                D             - G - D                       G                  D   - G
3.    Maria works in the factory,           she makes shoes for the man,
D            G                 D                 - G - D                  G                    D       - G
    Maria lives for her family,             now she does what she can.
G                                                       D
    Hold on to me, hold on to me, Maria !
A                          G  - A             G                 D
    For this was to be      a tragedy for our Maria.
 
A                    D                     - A                  D
    Oh Maria, don't you cry !       Oh Maria, dry your eyes …..