Story Behind The Song
This song was written and recorded in Spring 2017, when the first of Trump's draconian travel bans were enacted. Somewhere I saw an image of a kid holding a "you're welcome here" sign at an American airport as a small group of refugees was deplaning, and it led to this. I guess it's written ideally for the hypocrites who forget this is a nation built of and by immigrants.
Song Description
This song is a challenge to the hypocrites who forget America is a nation built of and by immigrants.
| Song Length |
5:46 |
Genre |
Folk - Americana, Folk - Contemporary |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant, Distressed |
Subject |
Justice, Freedom |
| Similar Artists |
Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie |
Language |
English |
| Era |
2000 and later |
| |
Lyrics
The driftwood picture frame
That your grandfather made
As a child, down in steerage
Fleeing famine, fleeing flood
Hangs over the TV
Where you curse the refugees
As he watches from that photo
From that gangway, from your door
If he knocked would you pull the blinds
Lock your legacy outside
Or would you hold him
Say you're welcome,
You are wanted
You are home
You're welcome
You're welcome
You're welcome
You're welcome
You are welcome here
Don't listen to the castle
Listen to the masses
You're welcome
You are welcome here
If you can shrug off the pain
Of a suffering stranger at your gate
Say goodbye to the Jesus
That you never truly claimed
Because we were all the unwelcomed
One time or another
But together built a manger
Ripped the doors off and called it ours
You're welcome
You're welcome
You're welcome
You're welcome
You are welcome here
Don't listen to the castle
Listen to the masses
You're welcome
You are welcome here
The unwelcome built your roads
Laid your rails and framed your homes
Lighted your rooms, lassoed the moon
Mended your hearts, mended your bones
So bring on the homeless, bring on the lost
Bring on the refuse tempest tossed
The lamp of liberty is low
We need you now, we need you so
So bring on the Muslim, bring on the Sikh
Bring on the good and bruised and weak
Bring on the Christian, bring on the drifting
Bring on the brave and bring on the meek
You're welcome
You're welcome
You're welcome
You're welcome
You are welcome here
Don't listen to the castle
Listen to the masses
You're welcome
You are welcome here
You're welcome
You're welcome
You are home