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31 Mar 09 - 04:02 AM (#2601042) Subject: songchallenge:deportees/illegal migrants From: peregrina In Plane Wreck at Los Gatos, Woody Guthrie has the lines 'Who are all these friends, scattered like dry leaves?/ The Radio says they are just just deportees' and then chorus with the NAMES 'Good bye to my Juan, good bye Rosalita. Adios mis amigos Jesus y Maria'...--the same point about affirming people's humanity by remembering them by name came up in 'Reuben James' where apparently Woody wanted to name each lost person by name... Today the presenter on Radio 4's Today Show referred to people who had drowned as 'illegal migrants' (they had set out on an unsafe boat, from Libya, presumably bound for Italy). But they are not illegal migrants until they have migrated somewhere illegally. A song in there anyone? |
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31 Mar 09 - 05:31 AM (#2601076) Subject: RE: songchallenge:deportees/illegal migrants From: Fred McCormick Dunno about that, but some years ago, before the present hysteria over illegal immigrants and asylum seekers erupted, Radio 4 reported on a group of east European gypsies who had settled on the fringes of an English east coast town. They had migrated there to escape persecution from mobs of fascists who had emerged following the collapse of communism. The locals were up in arms and Radio 4 went along to see what all the fuss was about. After listening to the usual diatribe from one of the protesters, the interviewer said "isn't it all a bit like the holocaust?". The woman replied "Holocaust! That's nothing to what we'll give them". |
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31 Mar 09 - 07:25 PM (#2601739) Subject: RE: songchallenge:deportees/illegal migrants From: GUEST,Gerry Back when Australia was shipping the survivors of failed immigration attempts off to various South Pacific locations for processing I added a couple of verses to Deportees. They are at http://mudcat.org/Detail.CFM?messages__Message_ID=1659757 |
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31 Mar 09 - 10:17 PM (#2601814) Subject: RE: songchallenge:deportees/illegal migrants From: reggie miles There's a song of mine that makes mention of some of the aspects of this very subject. You can stream this one via my MySpace page or via my EZ Folk site. Enjoy! Chasin' The American Dream Reggie Miles 2008 Across this great land every day They awake and arise from their beds With visions a plenty, ideas, and plans All dancing around in their heads If you venture to ask them, they'll tell you, "We only want what is best For our family, and friends, and our country And then, well, to hell with the rest." Each morning you'll see them rat racing Across mountain, and field, and stream Keeping up with the jones is what it's about When you're chasin' the American dream A mother of six, she's alone now Her husband's long since passed away It's hard to meet ends with a minimum wage Even working long hours each day Her children they make do without her Her eyes have lost their hopeful gleam Still she slaves away for her family's sake Just chasin' the American dream Each evening you'll see her street walkin' A life void of all self-esteem Keepin' the wolf from the door is what it's about When you're chasin' the American Dream Each night they smuggle in by the hundreds Refugees from impoverished lands All hungry for a piece of the American pie And they'll get it anyway that they can Corruption's rampant in every encampment Things are not all as sweet as they seem And it isn't so nice to have to fight for your slice When you're chasin' the American dream Each harvest season you'll see them In every orchard, and field they teem Buildin' a third world economy is what it's about When you're chasin' the American dream The gap between the rich and the poor guy Grows wider with each passing day It's not the rich guy who's whining, it's the poor guy who's pinin' For something more to be comin' his way Each plays the hand they've been dealt with in life Some rise to the top just like cream Others spend all their lives in last place, what a waste Just chasin' the American dream And the prize is just an illusion And the lies make you cry out and scream Keepin' us blind to the truth is what it's about When you're chasin' the American dream |
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31 Mar 09 - 10:26 PM (#2601819) Subject: RE: songchallenge:deportees/illegal migrants From: Q (Frank Staplin) Reggie Miles- thanks for posting the lyrics. On the BBC News last night, an estimate of 200 million migrants worldwide. This is a significant fraction of the world's population. |
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31 Mar 09 - 10:59 PM (#2601832) Subject: RE: songchallenge:deportees/illegal migrants From: reggie miles No problem! Yes, I thought it would be a worthy subject to offer in song for just that reason, the enormous number of folks in the position of trying to find a better way life. Of course, we all try to do that in our own way. This same subject, the plight of the poor or less fortunate among us, seems to be present in a lot of the songs that I've written of late. Just the various titles can give you an idea. Too Little Money, Not Enough Time It Takes Money To make Money Honey Sometimes You Get To Bite That Bear, Sometimes That Bear Bites You Wall Street Bail Out Blues Blue Collar Blues Always Lookin' T' Upgrade I'll Do Anything To Make A Buck Homeless, Broke and Hungry You can listen to some the above titles, the ones that I've got recorded and posted, at my EZ Folk site. There are 36 songs there to peruse. |