The Willie Nelson Immigrant Eyes song was released in 2019 as a track on his "Ride Me Back Home" album...watch the music video and see the lyrics here.
The Willie Nelson Immigrant Eyes song was released in 2019 as a track on his “Ride Me Back Home” album. This song is a great reminder of what made America. This song was originally by Guy Clark (a native Texan songwriter that died in 2017 at age 74). Willie is adding to Guy Clark’s legacy and features two of Guy’s songs on his latest album including: “My Favorite Picture of You,” the title track to Clark’s final album, and “Immigrant Eyes,” an older song that is very relevant to the immigration issues of today. Watch the touching music video and see the complete lyrics to the song below.
Oh, Ellis Island was swarming
Like a scene from a costume ball
Decked out in the colors of Europe
And on fire with the hope of it all
There my father’s own father stood huddled
With the tired and hungry and scared
Turn of the century pilgrims
Bound by the dream that they shared
They were standing in line just like cattle
Poked and sorted and shoved
Some were one desk away from sweet freedom
Some were torn from someone they love
Through this sprawling Tower of Babel
Came a young man, confused and alone
Determined and bound for America
And carrying all that he owned
Sometimes when I looked in my grandfather’s immigrant eyes
I saw that day reflected and I couldn’t hold my feelings inside
I saw started with nothing and working hard all of his life
“So don’t take it for granted, ” said grandfather’s immigrant eyes
He would rock and stare out the window
But his eyes are still just as clear
As the day he sailed through the Harbor
And come ashore on that island of tears
My grandfather’s days were numbered
But I won’t let his memory die
‘Cause he gave me the gift of this country
And the look in his immigrant eyes
Sometimes when I looked in my grandfather’s immigrant eyes
I saw that day reflected and couldn’t hold my feelings inside
I saw started with nothing and working hard all of his life
“So don’t take it for granted, ” said grandfather’s immigrant eyes
“Don’t take it for granted, ” said grandfather’s immigrant eyes
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