FAWM: "Immigrant"

Immigrant

Liner Notes

I guess I have more protest songs in me. This one I wrote at 5am when I woke up and couldn't fall back to sleep. As an immigrant to the USA myself (born in Canada of Jamaican parents), I feel like I'm in a strange position of privilege. Since I came here when I was 6 months old, I basically fit in as an American. Hell, it's all I've ever known. Also, being white means I've never been questioned, and I have no fear of being questioned. Still, I wasn't born here, so I feel a connection to immigrant communities, and it hurts to see so many of them going through serious troubles right now.

#protest #folkpunk #acousticonetake

Lyrics

Verse 1
ICE raids are beginning,
Whole communities in fear,
People rounded up
Indiscriminately you hear.
Families are in hiding
Like it's 1938,
And yet I'm living life
Free from all that fear and hate.

Chorus
I wasn't born here. I am an immigrant,
But I have no problem fitting in.
I have no fears of being deported
Cuz of the color of my skin.

Verse 2
Immigrants are scapegoats
For the sins of the rich.
They make you hate the brown folks
As a bait and switch.
They use the word "illegal"
As if it don't apply
To the crimes they have committed
Cuz their collars are white.

Chorus
I wasn't born here. I am an immigrant,
But I have no problem fitting in.
I have no fears of being deported
Cuz of the color of my skin.

Verse 3
Some people may be violent.
Some people peddle drugs.
Some steal all your money.
Some just act like thugs.
You may think that I am talking
About immigrants in this verse,
But I mean corporations,
And don't you think that's worse?

Chorus
I wasn't born here. I am an immigrant,
But I have no problem fitting in.
I have no fears of being deported
Cuz of the color of my skin.

Bridge
Immigrants aren't the problem. (X3)
Get that through your head.
Immigrants aren't the problem. (X3)
Try the powers that be instead.

Final Chorus
I wasn't born here. I am an immigrant,
But I have no problem fitting in.
I have no fears of being deported
Cuz of the color of my skin.
Plus we had money, and that protected me.
We were upper middle class.
If you don't believe that's why I'm safe now,
Then you really are an ass.
You really are an ass!

Comments

@hazydave 3d

Wow! These just keep getting better... this is brilliant. About an hour ago I got tired of working (you know those working-from-home people) and decided the rest of the day was going to all music. I finished up a song, wrote another in fully, and not I'm going to listen to all your stuff (and probably Caitlin's), maybe some more song writing, before I head out with guitar and Djembe for a shot night of song-circle music nearby. When I get home... hopefully my brain is still in writing mode.. I have 6 more, and maybe some recording soon.

@wondertruly 2w

Yes, Dave, YES!!! Go go go! Verse 2 is stark and acerbic. Brilliant writing. Nice gotcha moment in verse 3 too! A big HELL YEAH for this song! Kickass bridge. This is a fabulous protest song! Way to go!

@anthonykapfer 2w

digging this. the chorus is stuck in my head now. and you have a catchy bridge on this one. i always have a hard time writing good bridges so when i hear a good one i notice. nice work on this dude

@caitlin 2w

Cuz their collars are white - just their skin. I love that line. The verse 3 reveal is just too perfect as well. Thanks for recognizing your own privilege in such an open and genuine way. Your FAWM 2025 punk protest album is shaping up to kiss some major ass!