American Life
In a town in southernmost sicily
Lived a family too proud to be poor
In the year that fever took father away
They hastened for american shores
Now a mother & her son are standing in line
It's a cold day on ellis isle
And they look to the statue of liberty
For the boy we have american life
Ong is a laotian refugee
He works in the audio trade
The smoke from flux is filling his lungs
He's earning minimum wage
Spending spare time down on
San pablo ave
Once a week gets a woman for the night
And he writes home tales of prosperity
For the boy we have american life
Bob is an unemployed veteran
Born & bred in the south bronx
He's living off the streets down in east l.a.
Residing in a cardboard box
Now he plays a little quit & he has a small dog
Searching for aluminum cans
And he hold on tight to his dignity
He was born into american life
