Hi,

Apparently, with all the problems with the local net and with Mudcat, this comment never made it to the site:

One of the Ellis Island people suggested "sailed", and I think that strengthens it just enough to allow the fancy:

When they closed down Ellis Island
In nineteen fifty-four,
Nearly thirteen million people
Had sought refuge at its shore

And in Springtime when I sailed there
Their voices seemed to fill my ears
They made me wonder how it must have been
If you were thirteen years.


I'm not sure about the final line. The original one seems slightly incorrect to me, but maybe it's a common way to say that. The replacement I used may be a bit bland, though I hope it's correct.

In defence of the other songs: They do not actually say that these things happened differently, as they don't actually speak of them at all. The only thing is that tin hat: Is there something else the soldier might have gotten in 1915, together with the gun?

Of course, that I didn't consider it Ol Klear should not keep anyone from using it: Folk songs have to be sung; folk songs have to be altered. Only if we do both, the tradition will stay alive. So, by all means, pick any version mentioned, though I feel the latter ones are better. (Do remember to sing "thirteen" in all verses if you do so in the final verse.) Let me know how it goes.

Bye,
                                                                Mysha