Story Behind The Song
inspired by a photo from 1908 of 8 orphans having just arrived on Ellis Island and waiting to be processed, bags in hand and haunted faces.
Song Description
Russian Jews arriving on a boat full of immigrants, fleeing from the Pogroms.
| Song Length |
4:19 |
Genre |
Folk - Contemporary, Unique - Unclassified |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant, Welcoming |
Subject |
Life, Island |
| Language |
English |
Era |
2000 and later |
Lyrics
?Ellis Island.? Meryl Leppard. c. 2005
Over the sea to freedom
The Catonia sailed
How could we bear to leave them
The innocent and the frail
Some of us just got lucky
Buying an ocean cruise
Now here we stand
Bags in our hand
And Europe on our shoes
Chorus:
The sun comes up
Greeting us on Ellis Island
Our backs are straight
Turning from the path we trod
A new day dawns
Warming us on Ellis Island
We take a breath
Resting in the palm of God.
How can I feel so hollow
With countrymen all around
This little ship of sorrow
Soon will have come to ground
Everyone has their secrets
Tucked in a private place
A blanketed sky
Hid our goodbye
Our precious last embrace
Chorus:
The sun comes up
Greeting us on Ellis Island
Our backs are straight
Turning from the path we trod
A new day dawns
Warming us on Ellis Island
We take a breath
Resting in the palm of
God, well, does he hear us?
I swear I no longer know
Cause evil has been too near us
And we?re so far from home
The ghost of my sister is whispering
She?s saying, ?look Lydia, America, it?s beautiful.
Chorus:
The sun comes up
Greeting us on Ellis Island
Our backs are straight
Turning from the path we trod
A new day dawns
Warming us on Ellis Island
We take a breath
Resting in the palm of God.