Introduction:
Willie Nelson’s “Immigrant Eyes” stands as a testament to the power of music to convey profound narratives. The song, released in album: “Ride Me Back Home” (2019), encapsulates the essence of the immigrant experience, a theme Nelson holds dear to his heart. Let’s delve into the mesmerizing journey this musical masterpiece takes us on.
Did You Know?
Willie Nelson, a country music icon, penned “Immigrant Eyes” as a tribute to the struggles and dreams of those who sought a new life in America. Born out of a deep empathy for the immigrant narrative, the song resonates with the universal human desire for hope and belonging.
Video:
Lyrics:
“Immigrant Eyes”
(originally by Guy Clark)
Like a scene from a costume ball
Decked out in the colors of Europe
And on fire with the hope of it all
There my father’s own father stood huddled
With the tired and hungry and scared
Turn-of-the-century pilgrims
Bound by the dream that they shared
They were standing in lines just like cattle
Poked and sorted and shoved
Some were one desk away from freedom
Some were torn from someone they love
Through this sprawling Tower of Babel
Came a young man confused and alone
Determined and bound for America
And carrying all that he owned
Sometimes when I looked in my grandfather’s immigrant eyes
I saw that day reflected and I couldn’t hold my feelings inside
I saw starting with nothing and working hard all of his life
“So don’t take it for granted,” say grandfather’s immigrant eyes
He would rock and stares out the window
But his eyes are still just as clear
As the day he sailed through the harbor
And came ashore on the island of tears
My grandfather’s days were numbered
But I won’t let his memory die
‘Cause he gave me the gift of this country
And the looked in his immigrant eyes
Sometimes when I looked in my grandfather’s immigrant eyes
I saw that day reflected and I couldn’t hold my feelings inside
I saw starting with nothing and working hard all of his life
“So don’t take it for granted,” said grandfather’s immigrant eyes
“Don’t take it for granted,” said grandfather’s immigrant eyes
