PrernaLal.com

Awaiting DREAMs – Getting Lyrical

// March 5th, 2008 // Immigration

This is for the DREAMers. Do you have a song, poetry, or piece of art that you relate to your experience as an Undocumented Student? Something along the lines of hiding or living in the shadows or waiting in line and long queues? I would love to get some input and feedback on this from my fellow DREAMers.

I found some relevant songs that do strike a chord with me.

This one is by Neil Sadaka and called "The Immigrant." It basically alludes to an America that used to welcome everyone, and now it has closed the door.

Harbours open there doors to the young searching foreigner
Come to live in the light of the big L of liberty
Plains and open skies bill boards would advertise
Was it anything like that when you arrived
Dream boats carried the future to the heart of America
People were waiting in line for a place by the river

Chorus
It was time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play they tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room
That people could come from everywhere

Now he arrvies with hopes and his heart set on miracles
Come to marry his fortune with a hand full of promises
To find they've closed the door they don't want him anymore
There isn't anymore to go around
Turning away he remembers he once heard a legend
That spoke of a mystical magical land called America

It was time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play they tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room
That people could come from everywhere

It was time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play they tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room
That people could come from everywhere

 

And this other one is called "Waiting Room" by Fugazi, alluding to our long wait and immobile selves.

I am a patient boy
I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait
My time is like water down a drain
Everybody’s moving,
Everybody’s moving,
Everybody’s moving, moving, moving, moving
Please don’t leave me to remain
In the waiting room
I don’t want the news
I cannot use it
I don’t want the news
I won’t live by it
Sitting outside of town
Everybody’s always down
Tell me why?
Because… they can’t get up
Ahhh… Come on and get up
Come on and get up
But I don’t sit idly by
Ahhh…
I’m planning a big surprise
I’m gonna fight for what I want to be
I won’t make the same mistakes
Because I know
Because I know how much time that wastes
And Function
Function is the key
To the the waiting room
I don’t want the news
I cannot use it
I don’t want the news
I won’t live by it
Sitting outside of town
Everybody’s always down
Tell me why?
Because… they can’t get up
Ahhh… Come on and get up
Up for the waiting room
Sitting in the waiting room
Ahhh…
Tell me why?
Because… they can’t get up

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