Dave's Music #122 Immigrant Stories
As I work in the garden, listen to the news and hear of immigrants dying being smuggled across the border, and see all the NOW Hiring signs; I'm always brought back to all of us are immigrants to the great nation of United States of America except the Indigenous people who most times we give so little respect. I had a few new more songs I wanted to add to this playlist; but not warranted to have a whole new post. I'll add them here and then the remainder of the post will be the original post.
1) Deportee (Plane wreck at Las Gatos)
Woody's protest song shows we haven't made much progress being Christ like in this country. 1948 true story, click here to read about it. Nanci Griffith brought together an all star group to record this song.
Electric Guitar: Doug Lancio Accordion: Fats Kaplin Acoustic Guitar: Frank Christian Synthesiser: James Hooker Producer: Jim Rooney Vocals: John Stewart Mandolin, Vocals: Lee Satterfield Acoustic Guitar: Lucinda Williams Vocals: Lucinda Williams Producer, Vocals: Nanci Griffith Vocals: Odetta Drums: Pat Mc Inerney Vocals: Steve Earle Vocals: Susan Cowsill Vocals: Tish Hinjosa
2) Crosby Block - Martin Devaney
Here's a story from a recent backlog catalog from Martin the Unofficial St. Paul Mayor. This is the type of immigrant story I love, it's a story of growth and settling into life as part of the America that I'm proud of.
PLUS we get a live recording of Martin and the background to the story:
Happy Father’s Day. Here’s a tune that started out for and about my dad and became for and about my family. It took a few years to get it right and ended up on the House of Rust record. Over the course of several years, he and his folks and eight siblings all came from Ireland to St. Paul. Most of them ended up living in an apartment at one time or another in a building called Crosby Block. It’s still there on the corner of Feronia and Prior, just south of University. And as it would happen, some 25 years back, my cousins would open their small engine repair shop and auto repair shop right across the street. Which was also where I had my first job in high school. In any case, here’s a look back at the ol’ Crosby Block.
Since these stories just don't pop up on a word search, I'll keep adding to this playlist as I find them.
NOW Back to the original post.
A recent purchase, news and conversation lead me to putting together a list of songs around the immigrant theme. First Mike Ward put out a tasteful 3 song EP that I bought on Bandcamp Friday that he made sure was released before the election and described it as:This 3 song EP is being released ahead of the 2022 election period and is dedicated to those who raise their voice, chase freedom, make their way from other lands to seek refuge and to all those who support basic human ideals.
“Wishing Well” shines a light on protecting individual rights and free speech.
“Immigration Nation” focuses on the fact that we are all immigrants (or descendants thereof) and it is how this country was built.
“WWTFS” takes on the idea that standing by our flag is not partisan but we all share responsibility to question wrongs and to fight to make them right.
Next the absolute craziness of the FL Governor faking refugees to get on a plane in TX to fly to Martha's Vineyard is both absolutely heartless and such a waste of money. Don't get me wrong, if we had a government that worked with each other northern states should share in relocation costs and locations, but come on act like adults and not 7 year olds who flunked kindergarten. Finally I had a conversation with a fellow church member who agreed that we need to be welcoming again like we were to the Italians and Irish, and our unemployment issues would start to go away and our lives would be enriched. I'm a conservative socialist, open the borders, document everyone, and help them get to cities in most dire need of workers. If they stay productive citizens for seven years, let them be Americans. Too many times I hear business people lament there are a lot of lazy people in this world, you know who isn't lazy... immigrants working for a better life.
Well I might have lost some readers, so let's get the music that I found both on my vinyl and in the digital library.
1) All Ye Refugees - Sandra McCracken
Let's remember all the self righteous people against open borders would not be following the ways of the Bible, how they reconcile their beliefs to the good word is beyond my understanding. Does Ron DeSantis call himself a Christian?
For those who dared to dream
Intoleration will tear it down
Rip it apart at the seams
Today ICE agents ate at Rosa’s café
walked in the kitchen and took the cook away
Done nothing wrong …still has no rights
Some days we wonder if it’s really worth the fight
Get the kids off to school get em back when they’re done
Try and raise em right feed em well
Teach em how to see between heaven and hell
Oh but things are different out at sea
Now all they will call you is refugee
