Artist:
Bev Grant and the Dissident Daughters

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-by Bev Grant, Bruce Markow

Listen at 56k || Listen at 256k

Immigrant family pictured on arrival at Ellis Island in 1908. Click for pop-up.

Japanese-American farm workers have an ice
cream soda on weekly trip to town, Nyssa,
Oregon, July 1942. Click for pop-up.

May Day demonstrations of immigrant workers in New York, 2006. Click for pop-up.

When I was ten years old my family
      took me on a ferry ride
As we docked on Ellis Island, a sign
      was welcoming me
I never will forget the moment standing
      side by side
As we gazed at the names of our
      ancestors who came across
      the sea.

There was Jacob and Lou. Sadie came,
      too.
Aunt Essie got through to America.
They came husband and wife, escaping
      from strife
To create a new life in America.

Oh, yay, yay, yay.
Oh, yay, yay, yay.
Oh, yay, yay, yay.
Oh yay, yay, yay, yay, yay.

On the block where I grew up we all
      played hotscotch and stickball.
We had parents working hard to build
      the American dream.
You could smell the pickled herring
      and pork sausage in the hall,
And though everyone spoke their
      own language, in one voice we
      cried: "Ice Cream!"

We'd laugh and we'd play with Clancy
      and Fay
Sofia and Jose, in America.
We were Swedes and Russian Jews,
      Irish, Italian, too.
An immigrant stew in America.

Then we grew up and we moved away.
Strangers filled our old homes,
Bringing new flavors to season the day,
Making this country their own.

There's Yingshi and Carmen, Mustafa
      and Marvin,
Carlos, Rohini, Victor Cabrini,
Mike Mike Bo Bike, Bananafana Fo Fike
      in America.
Fathers and mothers, sisters and
      brothers
All shades of color blend with each
      other
Painting the rainbow that we call
      America.

Oh, yay, yay, yay.
Oh, yay, yay, yay.
Oh, yay, yay, yay.
Oh yay, yay, yay, yay, yay.

Listen at 56k || Listen at 256k

Personnel: Bev Grant, Valerie Andrewievich, Lynn Stabile, vocals; Bev Grant, guitar; Nick Holmes, sound.

Buy Bev Grant and the Dissident Daughters' Cheeky Women CD.

Bev Grant is a member of AFM Local 1000.

Photos: (1) Courtesy National Park Service. (2) Russell Lee, Library of Congress, P&P Division, FSA/OWI Collection, LC-USF34-073665-D. (3) Yana Golubitskiy.

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Music Archives

October 2008
Bev Grant & Dissident Daughters

In America

Bev Grant, Bruce Markow
Photos: National Park Service,
Russell Lee, Marion Post Wolcott

September 2008
Jon Fromer

Little One

Jon Fromer
Photo: Emily Kunstler

August 2008
DC Labor Chorus

Picket Line Songs

Andries vanTonder, Susie Rucks, Traditional
Photo: Unknown

July 2008
Tayo Aluko

Go Down Moses

Traditional
Photo: NARA