• This song is Dave Stamey's tribute to the Vaqueros, both past and present, and their superb form of horsemanship
• Vaquero is Spanish for Cowboy, and also indicates a certain style of cowboy horsemanship which rivals or surpasses the technique of dressage popular in English riding today
• Juan Medina represents the great Spanish Vaquero's who worked the rancheros of California in the 1800's.
• "I am still here". Today there exists a group of modern day cowboys in California who are working in the traditions and methods of the Spanish Vaquero's. This is referred to as the Californio style of cowboying.
• Captain Dana operated a large California cattle ranch in the 1800's. More
• Todavía estoy aquí   is Spanish for   I am still here
• Reata is a type of lasso used to rope cattle and horses W
• Barrancas is a deep gully or arroyo with steep sides W

Now I live in the air above the pepper trees
Where are all the cattle, that belonged to Captain Dana  
They're blown away like ashes in the California breeze

And once I rode the foothills
And I swung a long reata
I worked the hide and tallow trade in the land I loved

I rode in wooden stirrups
And the dust raised by my ponies
Was smoke, from my alter offered up to the God above

Todavía estoy aquí I am still here
Todavía estoy aquí my soul is dancing in the moonlight
I mingle with each grain of sand in the land that is my birthright
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí

In the canyon and barrancas
And willows by the creek bank
I chased the wild cattle through the live oak trees

Cross valleys ridge and mesa
And the hills baked oh, so yellow
My ponies sleek and dancing were all a man would need

Todavía estoy aquí I am still here
Todavía estoy aquí my soul is dancing in the moonlight
I mingle with each grain of sand in the land that is my birthright
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí

In the fog of early morning,
O' the misty haze of twilight
Beyond the sagging ruins of these adobe walls

You may see me in the dust,
That shimmers in the half light
Or hear me in the whisper, of the grass so green and tall

Todavía estoy aquí I am still here
Todavía estoy aquí my soul is dancing in the moonlight
Oh I mingle with each grain of sand in the land that is my birthright
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí
I am still here, todavía estoy aquí

My name is Juan Medina
A vaquero once was I
Now I live, in the air above of the pepper trees.....