Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Neil Young
Canonical path: /neil-young/cortez-the-killer
Related lyric paths: 6
Video embedded: yes
Lyric guide
Cortez The Killer
Read Cortez The Killer lyrics by Neil Young on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Lyrics
Cortez The Killer
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and guns
Looking for the new world
In that palace in the sun.
On the shore lay Montezuma
With his coca leaves and pearls
In his halls he often wondered
With the secrets of the worlds.
And his subjects gathered 'round him
Like the leaves around a tree
In their clothes of many colors
For the angry gods to see.
And the women all were beautiful
And the men stood straight and strong
They offered life in sacrifice
So that others could go on.
Hate was just a legend
And war was never known
The people worked together
And they lifted many stones.
They carried them to the flatlands
And they died along the way
But they built up with their bare hands
What we still can't do today.
And I know she's living there
And she loves me to this day
I still can't remember when
Or how I lost my way.
He came dancing across the water
Cortez, Cortez
What a killer.
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "Cortez The Killer"?
Neil Young performs "Cortez The Killer", and this lyric page sits inside the Neil Young catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Cortez The Killer"?
Yes. The related section below points to Journey Through The Past and My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue) with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Neil Young?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Neil Young's lyric pages.
Song Room
Open Song Room
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
Listener comments
What people are saying
No listener comments on Cortez The Killer yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.