AMERICAN LAND^©

Live 22 Jun 2006 version

What is this land of America, so many travel there
I'm going now while I'm still young, my darling meet me there
Wish me luck my lovely, I'll send for you when I can
And we'll make our home in the American land

Over there all the woman wear silk and satin to their knees*
And children dear, the sweets, I hear, are growing on the trees*
Gold comes rushing out the river straight into your hands*
If you make your home in the American land*

There's diamonds in the sidewalks, there's gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard working man
Who will make his home in the American land

I docked at Ellis Island in a city of light and spire
I wandered to the valley of red-hot steel and fire****
We made the steel that built the cities with the sweat of our two hands
And I made my home in the American land

There's diamonds in the sidewalk, there's gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard working man
Who will make his home in the American land

The McNicholas, the Posalski's, the Smiths, Zerillis too**
The Blacks, the Irish, the Italians, the Germans and the Jews
The Puerto Ricans, illegals, the Asians, Arabs miles from home***-*****
Come across the water with a fire down below******

They died building the railroads, worked to bones and skin
They died in the fields and factories, names scattered in the wind
They died to get here a hundred years ago, they're dyin' now
The hands that built the country we're all trying to keep down

There's diamonds in the sidewalk, there's gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard working man
Who will make his home in the American land
Who will make his home in the American land
Who will make his home in the American land

On the last 3 shows of the Summer 2006 US leg of The Seeger Sessions tour, Bruce opened the set with a new song referred to as AMERICAN LAND:

• 22 Jun 2006 at Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY (the above lyrics refer to that performance)
• 24 Jun 2006 at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
• 25 Jun 2006 at PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ (* this verse was omitted on this show)

AMERICAN LAND was reported to be rehearsed with the Seeger Sessions band on 19 Sep 2006 at the Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ, during the fall 2006 European leg private rehearsals. The song was the show closer for every show during that fall 2006 leg.

** "Zirilli" is Bruce's mother's surname from Italy. Thanks Stefano Barbero for noting this.

** On 19 Oct 2006 at Plaza De Toros Las Ventas, Madrid, Spain, Springsteen also added "the Spanish". Thanks Pa for that note.

** On 30 Oct 2006 at Globe Arena, Stockholm, Sweden, Springsteen replaces "the Jews" by "the Swedes". Thanks Björn Dahlman for that note.

This live 22 Jun 2006 version of the song was released on We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions - American Land Edition in Oct 2006.

There are several errors in the song's lyrics on the album's booklet, most notably:
**** On the booklet, this line is replaced by "She met me in the valley of red-hot steel and fire"
***** On the booklet, this line is replaced by "Come across the water a thousand miles from home"
****** On the booklet, this line is replaced by "With nothin' in their bellies but the fire down below"

AMERICAN LAND is written by Springsteen, and is inspired inspired by HE LIES IN THE AMERICAN LAND, a poem by Andrew Kovaly, a Slovakian immigrant steelworker, and that Pete Seeger later translated and set to music. The only verse that Springsteen kept from HE LIES IN THE AMERICAN LAND is the first one:

Ah, my God! What is this land of America?
So many people traveling there
I will go too, for I am still young
God, the Lord will grant me good luck there

You, my wife, stay here 'til you hear from me
When you get my letter, put everything in order
Mount a raven-black steed, a horse like the wind
Fly across the ocean to join me here

Ah, but when she arrived in this strange land
Here in McKeesport, this valley of fire
Only his grave, his blood, his blood did she find
Over it bitterly she cried

Ah, ah, ah, my husband, what have you done to this family of yours?
What can you say to these children, these children you've orphaned?
Tell them, my wife, not to wait, not to wait, not to wait for me
Tell them I lie here, in the American land

Thanks Steve for the lyrics corrections.

Request:
The above lyrics are not 100% complete or correct. You can send your corrections or comments by filling the below form or by sending email at . You will be credited. Thanks in advance.
*** The lyrics on this line are not very clear.

Notes from the We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions - American Land Edition booklet:

An original song inspired by "He Lies in the American Land," a poem by immigrant steelworker Andrew Kovaly and set to music by Pete Seeger.

Spoken intro/outro on 22 Jun 2006 at Madison Square Garden, Newy York City, NY:

Intro: Welcome friends! Alright, hello New York. Hit it Larry! Alright, we got a... immigrant song for New York City.

Outro: For all you travelers out there!