My name is Mary Francis And I live in El Paso In a large house on Mt. Franklin, I have quite a view I can see the desert, Pecan trees in the valley Those little shacks in Juarez, I can see them too My name is Juan Contreras And from my home in Juarez I can see El Paso And the houses of the rich I leave my children sleeping To earn a few centavo Selling red pistachios To the tourists on the bridge Which side of the river, Did someone flip a coin It's sad enough to break a river's heart How can there be so much distance between us When our houses are one mile apart My house is Spanish stucco, I have a blue Jacuzzi Four bedrooms and a fireplace, A swimming pool with heat My house is brown adobe, I don't have running water I don't have indoor plumbing, Or pavement on my street Which side of the river, Did someone flip a coin It's sad enough to break a river's heart How can there be so much distance between us When our houses are one mile apart When our houses are one mile apart