Happy 4th!

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American Land by Bruce Springsteen - Copyright 2006 Bruce Springsteen (ACSAP)


At the end of Bruce's shows on the current tour he plays this song and spins the lyrics for all to see:
American Land
What is this land America, so many travel there.
I'm going now while I'm still young, my darling meet me there.
Wish me luck, my lovely, I'll send for you when I can
And we'll make our home in the American land.
Over there all the women wear silk and satin to their knees
And children, dear, the sweets, I hear are growing on the trees
Gold comes rushing out the rivers straight into your hands
When you make your home in the American land.
There's diamonds in the sidewalk, the gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard-working man
Who will make his home in the American Land.
The McNicholas, the Posalski's, the Smiths, Zerillis, too
The Blacks, the Irish, Italians, the Germans, and the Jews
Come across the water a thousand miles from home
with nothing in their bellies but the fire down below.
There's diamonds in the sidewalk, the gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard-working man
Who will make his home in the American Land.
They died building the railroads, worked to bones and skin
They died in the fields and factories, names scattered in the wind
They died to get here a hundred years ago, they're still dying now
The hands that built the country were always trying to keep down.
There's diamonds in the sidewalk, the gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard-working man
Who will make his home in the American Land.
I suppose that when I hear about the fighting to keep immigrants out I think of our forefathers and the promise of this great country. Regardless, I defy you to listen to this song and not feel patriotic on our great holiday! Have a good one.

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