Berlin, who was Jewish, was one of the few Tin Pan Alley/Broadway songwriters who wrote both lyrics and music for his songs. Although he never learned to read music beyond a rudimentary level, he composed over 3,000 songs. Many of his songs, including "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Alexander's Ragtime Band", and "There's No Business Like Show Business," left an indelible mark on American music and culture. He produced 17 film scores and 21 Broadway scores, in addition to his individual songs.
Give me your tired your poor
Irving Berlin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore
Send these the homeless tempest-tost to me
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
Irving Berlin's song "Give me your tired, your poor" is a powerful expression of the American spirit of hope and inclusiveness. The lyrics are taken from Emma Lazarus' poem "The New Colossus," which was written in 1883 to commemorate the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. The poem and the song both express the idea that America is a welcoming home for immigrants, especially those fleeing poverty, persecution, or political turmoil in their home countries.
The repeated chorus of "Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore / Send these the homeless tempest-tost to me / I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" emphasizes the message of inclusion and acceptance. The imagery of the "golden door" and the "lamp" symbolize the promise of opportunity and freedom that America offers to those who come seeking a better life. Despite the challenges and obstacles they may face, the song encourages immigrants to persevere and hold onto hope.
Overall, the song "Give me your tired, your poor" stands as a testament to the ideal of America as a melting pot of cultures, a place where people from all walks of life can come together to build a better future. It is a reminder that our diversity is our strength and that we should never lose sight of the values that make this country great.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me your tired, your poor
Please let me take care of those who are exhausted and have a low income
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
Those who are crowded together and longing for freedom
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore
The miserable waste and leftovers on your overcrowded beaches
Send these the homeless tempest-tost to me
Please send to me those who are without a home and affected by the storm
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
I will show you the way to a better life with the light of my lamp next to the gate made of gold
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: EMMA LAZARUS, IRVING BERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@donnaswan347
Well done, young people! This song holds a lot of meaning and emotion for me.
I remember when we sang it in high school choir.
The words, though...they say so much about human compassion. Always brings tears to my eyes when
I think of those who never made it- of those who did make it here but had to leave so many of their dead behind. The tears they must have shed when their eyes beheld that wonderful Statue which symbolized the freedom they sought.
Freedom...such a precious gift.
"Give me your tired, your poor-your huddled masses yearning to breathe free;
the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
(part of the poem etched at the base of the Statue of Liberty)
@oleanderson3693
Ah, the purity of children's vices singing this great song. Been 60 years for me in HS. Goosebumps.
@mothershelper1981
Bravo! It's been fifty years since I sang the song with my high school choir and I still remembered every word and the Alto part to it.
@claudia11111937
I was an alto and I still know the parts.
@rippleeffectcoaching
Me too!! And the nun motion to me to take over a solo part I was too scared Lol
@Calluna_Vulgaris
Me too! I can still sing the alto part, also.
@imeldapearce
iNcredible! I remember hearing this in my youth like this bur don't remember the particulars. lOve the meaning. Thank you, America.
@eleanorlindquist5211
I was a music teacher in days of yore. My choir sang this every year and it was they who wanted to. At the end of the song all the kids had tears in their eyes and so did the audience.
@earthgoddess4698
Bravo 👏🏼 Beautifully done! We sang this in our elementary school chorus on up through and including high school!
@donnaswan347
Well done, young people! This song holds a lot of meaning and emotion for me.
I remember when we sang it in high school choir.
The words, though...they say so much about human compassion. Always brings tears to my eyes when
I think of those who never made it- of those who did make it here but had to leave so many of their dead behind. The tears they must have shed when their eyes beheld that wonderful Statue which symbolized the freedom they sought.
Freedom...such a precious gift.
"Give me your tired, your poor-your huddled masses yearning to breathe free;
the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."
(part of the poem etched at the base of the Statue of Liberty)
@claytonzzzzz
stunning