Immigration State of Mind

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!