Heritage

Ruth Grogan and Ed Connors

Famine plagued our country in eighteen forty-eight,
we had no choice but to say goodbye, a new land held our fate.
Our language had a peculiar brogue, our religion evoked fear,
but we worked to build this country, through hardships we endured.
When nineteen ten came upon us, Europe was in strife,
war was looming on the rise, few jobs became our plight.
We packed our meager belongings and crossed the open sea,
we disembarked on Ellis Isle with our hopes of democracy.

Refrain:
Our country stands for liberty, the home of the brave and free.
The lady on the island is there for all to see.
Take pride in our heritage that we brought across the sea,
As our families sought refuge and opportunity.

We moved our homes and our families from the land of the rising sun,
we built our lives in communities, when World War II had begun.
Our lives were uprooted into camps we were interned,
but we stood by our new country, to our homes we would return.
We come to this great country still, as those before us came,
our heritage is different but our reasons are the same.
We seek freedom from oppression and relief from poverty;
we add strength to this nation through our diversity.

Refrain: sing then repeat the very last line and end.