Lyr Req: Immigrant (Emigrant) Eyes

Subject: Emigrant Eyes
From: GUEST
Date: 13 May 02 - 05:31 PM

Can anyone please supply the words and the composer of the song "Emigrant Eyes" as sung by Dolores Keane? It would be most appreciated.

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From: Big Mick
Date: 13 May 02 - 05:44 PM

Sorry about the caps, but I pasted off another document

IMMIGRANT EYES
GUY CLARK, ROGER MURRAH
(ASCAP, BMI)
                           
OLD ELLIS ISLAND WAS SWARMING, LIKE A SCENE FROM A COSTUME BALL
DECKED OUT IN THE COLORS OF EUROPE, ON FIRE WITH THE HOPE OF IT ALL
THERE MY FATHERS OWN FATHER STOOD HUDDLED, WITH THE TIRED AND HUNGRY AND SCARED
TURN OF THE CENTURY PILGRIMS, BOUND BY THE DREAMS THEY SHARED
                                       
THEY WERE STANDING IN LINE JUST LIKE CATTLE, POKED AND SORTED AND SHOVED.
SOME WERE ONE DESK AWAY FROM SWEET FREEDOM, SOME TORN FROM SOMEONE THEY LOVED.
TO THIS SPRAWLING TOWER OF BABEL, CAME A YOUNG MAN CONFUSED AND ALONE.
DETERMINED AND BOUND FOR AMERICA, CARRYING EVERYTHING HE OWNED.   (CHORUS)

CHORUS:
SOMETIMES WHEN I LOOK IN MY GRANDFATHERS EMIGRANT EYES,
I SEE THAT DAY REFLECTED, I CAN'T HOLD MY FEELINGS INSIDE
I SEE STARTING WITH NOTHING AND WORKING HARD ALL OF HIS LIFE.
SO DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, SEE GRANDFATHER'S EMIGRANT EYES

NOW HE ROCKS AND STARES OUT THE WINDOW, BUT HIS EYES ARE STILL JUST AS CLEAR,
AS THE DAY HE SAILED THROUGH THE HARBOR, CAME ASHORE ON THE ISLAND OF TEARS.
MY GRANDDA'S DAYS ARE NUMBERED, BUT I WON'T LET HIS MEMORY DIE,
HE GAVE ME THE GIFT OF THIS COUNTRY, AND THE LOOK IN HIS EMIGRANT EYES (CHORUS, RPT LAST LINE)

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 May 02 - 06:13 PM

Mick sings so LOUD. *G*

~S~

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 May 02 - 06:58 PM

"Emigrant Eyes" or "Immigrant Eyes" - I'd imagine the former. "Emigrant" is how you'd see yourself, "Immigrant" is what other people see when they look at you.

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 13 May 02 - 07:12 PM

Well, Dolores can belt 'em out too, at need....*G* (though I dont know this song, but it seems like one to be sung in that lovely quiet voice of hers...well, not a 'belter' anyway)

It always impresses me how quick people can get a response here....ok, 13 minutes is far from the record *G* but nevertheless.....

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From: Big Mick
Date: 13 May 02 - 07:21 PM

I sing this song in a very gentle way. As far as the spelling, I do indeed spell it "Emigrant". In fact, I changed it when I checked the Harry Fox Agency Songfile and noted that it was officially noted as "Immigrant".

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: EMIGRANT EYES (Guy Clark, Roger Murrah)
From: Noreen
Date: 13 May 02 - 07:32 PM

(highlight, shift f3 changes case easily!)

EMIGRANT EYES
Guy Clark, Roger Murrah

Old Ellis Island was swarming, like a scene from a costume ball
Decked out in the colors of Europe, 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 dreams they shared

They were standing in line just like cattle, poked and sorted and shoved.
Some were one desk away from sweet freedom, some torn from someone they loved.
To this sprawling tower of Babel, came a young man confused and alone.
Determined and bound for America, carrying everything he owned. (chorus)

chorus:
Sometimes when I look in my grandfathers emigrant eyes,
I see that day reflected, I can't hold my feelings inside
I see starting with nothing and working hard all of his life.
So don't take it for granted, see grandfather's emigrant eyes

Now he rocks and stares out the window, but his eyes are still just as clear,
As the day he sailed through the harbor, came ashore on the island of tears.
My grandda's days are numbered, but I won't let his memory die,
He gave me the gift of this country, and the look in his emigrant eyes

(chorus, rpt last line)

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From:
Date: 13 May 02 - 11:34 PM

Another singer of this song is John Allan Cameron. Does a good job of it.

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From:
Date: 14 May 02 - 01:55 PM

Wish I could hear the tune of Emigrant's Eyes.

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 08:23 PM

Does anyone have chords for this song? Help, please.

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 09:15 PM

It's on a recent CD of Seamus Kennedy's. Great version.

~S~

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 09:34 PM

I should also mention that I'm supposed to come up with the chords by Sunday afternoon. I've found lyrics and information about recordings, but no chords. The person doing the singing DOES have a recording, but doesn't do chords. The people backing her up do chords but don't have the recording. I opened my big mouth and said "No worries - someone on Mudcat will have them."

Subject: RE: Emigrant Eyes
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Mar 04 - 10:22 PM

The transcription from Noreen above has 'Emigrant Eyes'. On his 'Old Friends' album whereon he recorded the song, Clark has 'Immigrant Eyes'. It would be a courtesy at least to keep the title that the author gave it.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Imigrant (Emigrant) Eyes
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Mar 04 - 07:15 AM

Thread title edited, and I'll make sure the person singing the song knows the correct title.

Chords anybody? Mick? Help, m'aidez...

Subject: Chords Add: IMMIGRANT EYES / EMIGRANT EYES
From: HuwG
Date: 08 Mar 04 - 09:28 PM

Apologies for lateness in replying. Here are the Chords, as I heard them earlier tonight:

Verse:

Old [G] Ellis [G/B] Island was [Em] swarming,
Like a [C] scene from a costume [Am] ball
Decked [D] out in the colours of [D7] Europe,
On [C] fire with the hope of it [G] all
There my [G] father's own [G/B] father stood [Em] huddled,
With the [C] hungry and [Am] scared
[D] Turn of the century [D7] pilgrims
[C] Bound by the dreams they [G] shared


Chorus:

Some[C] times when I look
In my grandfathers emigrant [G] eyes,
I see [D] that day reflected
I can't hold my feelings [G] inside
I see [C] starting with nothing
And working hard all of his [G] life.
So don't [D] take it for granted
See [C] grandfather's emigrant [G] yes.


After final chorus:

So don't [C] take it for granted
See grandfather's emigrant [G] eyes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Immigrant (Emigrant) Eyes
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Mar 04 - 05:24 PM

Thanks, HuwG!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Immigrant (Emigrant) Eyes
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 08:40 AM

For the record, AMG - All Music Guide lists 5 recordings called EMIGRANT EYES; they are performed by Geraldine Doyle, Dolores Keane, Rita McNeil, Sheila Noonan, and Frank Patterson.

It also lists 5 recordings called IMMIGRANT EYES; 2 are performed by Guy Clark and the others are by Steve Earle, Tim Flannery, and Amy Gallatin.

I think they are all the same song. I'm not familiar with all the performers, but I'd guess the ones who use EMIGRANT are Irish and the ones who use IMMIGRANT are American. It figures.

There is also one called EYES OF THE IMMIGRANT, written and performed by Eric Andersen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Immigrant (Emigrant) Eyes
From: GUEST,Den
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 11:03 AM

I could have sworn Guy was singing, "Don't take it for granted say Grandfather's Immigrant eyes." Oh well.

Subject: Lyr Add: EMIGRANT EYES (from Seamus Kennedy)
From: freightdawg
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 04:56 PM

Just got through listening to Seamus' version. I thought I remembered his version being longer, and a couple of phrases are switched from the listing above.   Since Seamus sings it this way, it's gotta be the right way!! :-)

Emigrant Eyes (Guy Clark, as performed by Seamus Kennedy, on his cd, "Let The Music Take You Home")

Old Ellis Island was swarming,
like a scene from a costume ball,
Decked out in the colors of Europe,
on fire with the hope of it all.
They were standing in line just like cattle,
they were pushed and sorted and shoved,
Some were one desk away from sweet freedom,
some were torn from someone they loved.

To this sprawling tower of Babel,
came a young man confused and alone,
Determined and bound for America,
carrying everything that he owned.
My father's own father stood huddled,
with the tired and hungry and scared,
A turn of the century pilgrim,
in love with the dreams that they shared.

(chorus)
Sometimes when I look in my grandfathers emigrant eyes,
I see that day reflected, I can't hold my feelings inside.
I see starting with nothing and working hard all of his life,
So don't take it for granted, say grandfather's emigrant eyes.

Now he rocks and he stares out the window,
but his eyes are still just as clear,
As the day he sailed into the harbor,
to land on the island of tears.
Now My grandfather's days are numbered,
but I won't let his memory die,
For He gave me the gift of this country,
and the look in his emigrant eyes.

(repeat chorus)

Now I gaze with pride at my children,
and I marvel how quickly they've grown,
Born and raised in America,
it's the only home they've ever known.
Now they never knew their great granddad,
or that he was determined and wise,
But I hope that I've passed on his spirit,
and the look in his emigrant eyes.

repeat chorus,
repeat last line,
Never take it for granted, say grandfather's emigrant eyes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Immigrant (Emigrant) Eyes
From: HuwG
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 11:06 AM

Incidentally, I got the chords from Stuart Thompson, bless him. I owe him a pint, if he sees me first.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Immigrant (Emigrant) Eyes
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 02 Jul 22 - 05:08 AM

Jeez, it's been so long since I've bopped into Mudcat. Forgot what I've been missing!

I know this thread started long ago, but I thought I'd post my own 'cheat sheet', in case it's worth it to someone.

Some of the 'D' chords may be 'D7's; use your judgment.

To be thorough: Copy and paste the lyrics below. Set your page for a mono-spaced font (such as DejaVu Sans Mono - preferred - or Courier New. I format my cheat sheet pages to 1/4 inch borders all around and 12-point print. If you have wider margins, 11-point should serve as well.

It's 5 in the morning and this is the sort of thing I do when I can't sleep!    :-)



Emigrant Eyes
Guy Clark / Roger Murrah


G                                     C          Em       Am
Old Ellis Island was swarming, like a scene from a costume ball
       D                               C             D          G
Decked out in the colours of Europe, on fire with the hope of it all
         G                                           C         Em       Am
There my father's own father stood huddled, with the tired and hungry & scared
D                            C            D                G
Turn of the century pilgrims, bound by the dreams that they shared


G                                           C         Em         Am
They were standing in line just like cattle, poked and sorted and shoved.
          D                                     C         D            G
Some were one desk away from sweet freedom, some torn from someone they loved.
       G                               C             Em          Am
To this sprawling tower of Babel, came a young man con-fused and a-lone.
D                                 C             D       G
Determined and bound for America, carrying every-thing he owned.


chorus:            C                                             G
Some-times when I look in my grandfathers emigrant eyes,
D                                                   G
I see that day reflected, I can't hold my feelings in-side
      C                                                 G
I see starting with nothing and working hard all of his life.
         D                        C             D       G
So don't take it for granted, say grandfather's emigrant eyes


       G                                        C       Em            Am
Now he rocks and stares out the window, but his eyes are still just as clear,
       D                                        C            D         G
As the day he sailed through the harbour, came a-shore on the island of tears.
   G                                  C             Em    Am
My grandda's days are numbered, but I won't let his memory die,
               D                            C          D       G
He gave me the gift of this country, and the look in his emigrant eyes

(chorus, repeat last line)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Immigrant (Emigrant) Eyes
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 02 Jul 22 - 05:12 AM

Chords will fall into proper spacing once they're transplanted to the fore-mentioned mono-space font. One thing that doesn't translate is that I also bold all the chord lines.