Immigration State of Mind
Written by Robin Bracken
Calhoun Academy of the Arts
Anderson, SC
Sing to: Empire State of Mind
By Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
Yeah Immigration
Moving to the U.S.
All seeking freedom
Jobs, food and homes
We need a better life
wars in the homeland
religious persecution
Just let us break away
Traveled in steerage
crowded with the luggage
moving alone from
South and East Europe
People are crying
others are dying
Is this worth it
to go to the Golden land
I want a decent job, go to school and eat really well
I miss my family
but I know it’s better there
Candy dropping from the sky
bread and butter- not a lie
steamship get me there
6 to 30 days who cares
Ellis Island- I have arrived
Lady Liberty- I survived
Inspection Station
Pass examinations
Waiting in the Great Hall
Answering questions
Chorus
New York!!!! America is where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do.
Now you’re in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
The Freedom will inspire you,
Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York!
Immigrants were pushed or pulled
From their home countries
For social equality or
Political freedom
They made a huge impact
On America
In many different ways
A melting pot here today
Some moved to the West
To work in meat packing plants
Or grain mills and
some did work the fields
Most settled the East Coast
And showed city growth
Urbanization
And ethnic neighborhoods
Little Italy, Germantown
Little Poland, Chinatown
Providing labor
They became the workforce
Taking the dirty jobs
Working for low wages
Not appreciated
For economic growth
Prejudices against
Ethnicity and religion
Catholics and Jews
Discrimination
And resistance
From the native-born Americans
Despite all the troubles
Opportunities arose
Chorus
New York!!!! America is where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do.
Now you’re in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
The Freedom will inspire you,
Let’s hear it for New York, New York,
New York!
Public schools were established
In the early 1800s
To Assimilate immigrants
Into American values
Diversity helped promote
Tolerance and democracy
Increased Immigration
Brought growth of BIG BUSINESS
The workforce was a plenty
They worked for less money
They helped the businesses
To make a greater profit
Then Entrepreneurs
Using their business skills
Like Andrew Carnegie
John D. Rockefeller
Creating monopolies
Controlling the industries
Keeping wages low
Labor unions cannot grow
Many children had to work
To help support their families
Work conditions- dangerous
Long hours- outrageous
But immigration as a whole
The cultural contributions
From all around the world
They make America
what its known today
The land of the free and the land, the land, the land of opportunity
Chorus
New York!!!! America is where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do.
Now you’re in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
The Freedom will inspire you,
Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York!
Bridge
One hand in the air for the big city,
New freedom, big dreams all looking pretty,
No place in the world that can compare,
Immigration give it up, everybody say YEEEEEEAAH!
YEEEEEEEAH!!!
Chorus
New York!!!! America is where dreams are made of,
There’s nothing you can’t do.
Now you’re in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
The Freedom will inspire you,
Let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York!
