ELLIS ISLAND
(MP3) (Windows Media Player)
An ocean divides us
From new life and broken home
An émigré's diary
Today, 1917
"We left from Bevagna
Old country, empty houses
Followed Agostino
The fool's made a pretty penny"
Well, that's what the woman said
His wife, one son and three daughters
I'm tempted to believe her
Oh, Fortune!
What a fortune waits
On we sail through dawn
'Till night falls again
We take no rest
Salt soothes a heart
Haul away, haul away
Our home feels so near
The sun strikes the water
The water strikes against the steamer
But steady, our courage
Hold fast through wind and spray, oh!
When on the horizon
You catch sight of Ellis Island
The Narrows behind us
And worries will ebb away
I hear there's a Lady
You can't see her curves from here
But - skin cut of copper
Robes fitting Freedom, now
Say - you know that I'll ask her
Her hand and a kiss hello
We'll dance through the harbor
And streets, twirling 'round
On we sail through dawn
'Till night falls again
We take no rest
Salt soothes a heart
Haul away, haul away
Our home feels so near
On we sail
On the Dante Alighieri
(Dedicated to the memory of my grandfather, Giacomo Ubaldi, 1910-2001. I took literary license for the song, as Jack arrived in America on February 23, 1918.)
Michael Ubaldi: Vocals, guitar
Gabe McElwain: Vocals, guitar
Jonn Sokol: Piano
Dave Molnar: Vocals
Charlie Druesedow: Percussion