# Songs of Immigration/Emigration. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846 "2010-06-11T21:03:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/21 "2010-06-13T02:54:55Z")
[Bandera](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ_ch6zdNYg) by Aterciopelados. About illegal immigration. [Sangre americana](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzYCmXaR74k) by Bacilos, about immigrants making it in the US. Bacilos also has other songs about immigration. [A las tres](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RREMRZ8MJMI), about a guy writing to his beloved (who remains in their home country). [En mi Viejo San Juan](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMtPQIUrLIg)- Nostalgic song. Guy remembers growing up in Old San Juan, before he moved to the mainland… Depressing song (for me) because at the end he admits he won’t be able to return to his city before he dies. [Todos vuelven](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0qNnvommmI), mentions about returning to the home country, even if just in dreams… ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/22 "2010-06-13T03:02:22Z")
If you’re going towards more folksy songs… [Sólo le pido a Dios](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek4qqkJ9950) by León Gieco mentions emigrants in one of the stanzas, “desahuciado está el que tiene que marchar a vivir una cultura diferente.” [Todo cambia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8VqIFSrFUU), made famous by Mercedes Sosa (RIP), talks about immigration towards the end of the song. > [@](#): > > Pero no cambia mi amor > Por mas lejo que me encuentre > Ni el recuerdo ni el dolor > De mi pueblo y de mi gente > > Lo que cambió ayer > Tendrá que cambiar mañana > Así como cambio yo > En esta tierra lejana ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/23 "2010-06-13T03:11:18Z")
Oh, and I’m partial to the following song by Fiel a la Vega, [“El Wanabí” (The Wannabe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McUguAgYvKo)). If only I knew my some of my coursework as easy as I know the letter to that song! [Boricua en la luna](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83U_kVYT8hc) also speaks about immigration/emigration. Lastly, [En la vida todo es ir](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gko1ZDpvxXY) alludes to moving away. All three were written by Puerto Ricans, the last two by Juan Antonio Corretjer (RIP). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/24 "2010-06-13T07:02:09Z")
“Mayflower” by The Glands ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/25 "2010-06-13T07:08:26Z")
Weird Al-[Gonna Buy Me A Condo.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-tSEiZvUGM) ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/26 "2010-06-13T07:30:45Z")
Born in East LA -Cheech Marin ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/27 "2010-06-13T07:56:50Z")
A lot of stuff by [Los Tigres del Norte](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Tigres_del_Norte). ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/28 "2010-06-13T08:14:57Z")
[Cool Video.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff3C-Kyv8wI) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/29 "2010-06-13T08:20:40Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I’m sure there are at least a few dozen more songs on the the theme of Jews leaving their old country and coming to Israel. Fewer than you’d think, actually. There are plenty of songs about the country and how beautiful it is, and lots of others about farming and fighting and other outdoor activities, but the actually immigrant experience is mostly lacking. There certainly isn’t any yearning for the country left behind. There is, however, [this classic sketch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alp9scMfmjA). ETA: I’ve thought of one: [this song](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XorWqcuDBU)from the 1974 musical _Kazablan_. The song’s about a Morrocan immigrant complaining that people used to show more respect back in Casablanca. (Warning: cheesy.) ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/30 "2010-06-13T10:38:48Z")
Good luck finding it but the song “I dream alone” by the Little River Band sings about moving from the England to Australia with these lyrics. _I was born near the factory where Henry wrote his name sometimes I could hear the whistle blow my father pushed his headlights thru that northern English rain he was proud of everything he drove. And mother’s hair was fashioned for that very special day she cried on board the liner and tried to wave good-bye five weeks of remembering those names we couldn’t say staring at the South Pacific sky._ -snip- \*As soon as we set foot on the sunburnt land the mountains all around us ran with fire my family knew right then that our best laid plans would have to reach a lot higher. \* It’s a good little song from an (imho) underrated band. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/31 "2010-06-13T11:00:47Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Good luck finding it but the song “I dream alone” by the Little River Band sings about moving from the England to Australia with these lyrics. [Youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCyOHqpzVOg). ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/32 "2010-06-13T11:11:56Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > [Youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCyOHqpzVOg). That just shows how inept my 30 seconds googling was. Many thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/33 "2010-06-13T11:39:10Z")
How about Dire Strait’s “Telegraph Road”? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/34 "2010-06-13T14:02:06Z")
“Funky Ceile” by Black 47 ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/35 "2010-06-13T15:24:25Z")
**Steely Dan’s The Royal Scam** is about Puerto Ricans emigrating to New York. “And they wandered in from the city of Saint John without a dime” Saint John = San Juan The immigrants quickly become disenchanted as they are “hounded down to the bottom of a bad town amidst the ruins.” One of SD’s greatest lines follows as “They learn to fear an angry race of fallen kings their dark companions.” In the last stanza which is open to interpretation, I always viewed it as the emigrants while relaying their experiences to folks back home, they’re too proud to reveal what life is actually like thus perpetuating the 'glory of the Royal Scam." Give it a listen and decide for yourself [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i3f9EqqKuk) ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/36 "2010-06-13T16:50:15Z")
The Pogues, [Thousands are Sailing.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-OnS3LPt0w) eta: This wasn’t a single, as far as I know, so no official video - this is somebody’s private video of a vacation in Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/37 "2010-06-13T23:48:16Z")
An Irish Immigration Song by- De Dannan [Teddy ONeil](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wcvHjqfzkw) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/38 "2010-06-14T11:02:03Z")
Suspiros de España (Sighs of Spain, Spain’s Sighs) is a pasodoble which specifically talks about spending Christmas in the US during Prohibition ("…bought red wine with a prescription…" “…and hearing that music, there in a foreign land, we understood it was our sighs, Spain’s sighs…”). Songs about migration are very, very common in Spanish, but they don’t usually mention the country of reception: México lindo y querido ("…if I die abroad, tell them I’m asleep and take me home to be buried…") or Cuando salí de Cuba ("…I won’t be able to die, my heart is not here, I left it buried in the sand…") talk about living outside the country mentioned in the title, but not about where the singer now lives. Miña terra gallega (Siniestro Total’s cover of Sweet Home Alabama) talks about emigrating to the Caribbean and missing the grey, grey skies of home. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/39 "2010-06-14T11:59:51Z")
Great, now I have visions of Viking kitties dancing in my head. Well, there are worse ways to start a Monday. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846/40 "2010-06-14T13:00:45Z")
This song reminds me of how much I love my Country and how hard it would be to have to leave it. It’s by The Cardigans. [And If You Want Me I’m Your Country](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxZ9_XlL19E) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfGSqUmcqDk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfGSqUmcqDk) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-of-immigration-emigration/542846.md?page=3)