I've been thinking about the actual wording of the question - and have another question. Even with the examples listed here, are the emmigration/immigration songs, including the one I wrote based partly on family history, ever REALLY happy? They may be optomistic or cheerful or making the best of a lousy situation, but are they REALLY happy?

The older songs, meaning in my mind mid-20th century and before, when leaving a homeland pretty much meant forever, have a poignancy to them that is often times overlooked by singers/performers today. "Farewell to Nova Scotia" is common in this, typically played fast and up-tempo, with lines like "will you ever have a sigh or a wish for me..." Egads - kind of like disco - the fast tempo and major key hides the fact that the lyrics are actually pretty depressing.

Just wondering...

Cheers - Pete