Immigrants
K'naan Lyrics

You know, and it gets into this whole issue of border security
The topic of this song is an important discussion about border security

You know, who's gonna say that the borders are secure?
It's difficult to say whether or not the borders of a country are truly secure

We've got the House and the Senate debating this issue
The House and the Senate are currently discussing and debating this important issue

And it's, it's really astonishing that in a country founded by immigrants
It's quite surprising that in a country that was built by immigrants, negative connotations have developed around the word immigrant

"Immigrant" has somehow become a bad word
The word immigrant has acquired a negative connotation due to various factors

So the debate rages on and we continue
The debate about immigration continues to be a controversial issue

And just like that it's over, we tend to our wounded, we count our dead
After a conflict, people tend to their wounded and count their dead

Black and white soldiers wonder alike if this really means freedom
Soldiers from all races wonder if their fight for their country's security equates to what true freedom really means

Not yet
Freedom has yet to be fully achieved

I got one job, two job, three when I need them
I have multiple jobs to make ends meet and support myself

I got five roommates in this one studio, but I never really see them
I share a studio with five other people, but we only see each other occasionally

And we all came America trying to get a lap dance from Lady Freedom
We all came to America seeking the freedom that this country offers

But now Lady Liberty is acting like Hilary Banks with a pre-nup
Lady Liberty, a symbol of freedom, now acts like someone who is only concerned with money and not with helping those who came to America for a better life

Man, I was brave, sailing on graves
I was brave to come to this country, as many before me perished while trying to make the same journey

Don't think I didn't notice those tombstones disguised as waves
I am aware of the danger of crossing the ocean to come to America, and the many lives that have been lost in the process

I'm no dummy, here is something funny, you can be an immigrant without risking your lives
It's possible to immigrate to a new country without putting one's life in danger

Or crossing these borders with thrifty supplies
It's not necessary to cross borders with only the bare minimum to survive

All you got to do is see the world with new eyes
To truly appreciate and understand the experiences of immigrants, one needs to have a new perspective on the world

Immigrants, we get the job done
Immigrants work hard and get the job done

Look how far I come
Look at how much progress I have made

It's a hard line when you're an import
It's difficult to be an immigrant in a new country

Baby boy, it's hard times
It's a difficult situation to be an immigrant

When you ain't sent for
When you didn't choose to leave your home country, but were forced to do so for a better life

Racists feed the belly of the beast
Racists are the ones who fuel hate and discrimination against immigrants

With they pitchforks, rich chores
The wealthy and privileged benefit from the work of immigrants, but also perpetuate the negative treatment of immigrants

Done by the people that get ignored
The work done by immigrants is often ignored or taken for granted

Ya se armó
The time has come

Ya se despertaron
People have awakened to the reality of the struggles of immigrants

It's a whole awakening
There is a large awakening happening around the world in regards to the treatment of immigrants

La alarma ya sonó hace rato
The alarm has been sounded for some time now

Los que quieren buscan
Those who seek, find

Pero nos apodan como vagos
Despite our hard work, we immigrants are often wrongly labeled as lazy

We are the same ones
We are all human beings, regardless of our nationality or background

Hustling on every level
We work hard and persevere in every aspect of life

Ten los datos
Pay attention and be informed

Walk a mile in our shoes
Only by experiencing what immigrants go through can one truly understand their struggles

Abróchense los zapatos
Get ready to face reality

I been scoping ya dudes, ya'll ain't been working like I do
I've observed those who judged me, and they don't work as hard as I do

I'll outwork you, it hurts you
I'll work harder than those who judge me, and that will make them feel inferior

You claim I'm stealing jobs though
Some people say that immigrants are taking away jobs from citizens

Peter Piper claimed he picked them, he just underpaid Pablo
People who criticize immigrants for stealing jobs are sometimes hypocritical, as they themselves benefit from cheap labor provided by immigrants

But there ain't a paper trail when you living in the shadows
Undocumented immigrants often have no record of their work, which makes it harder for them to defend themselves against accusations of stealing jobs

We're America's ghost writers, the credit's only borrowed
Immigrants contribute greatly to the United States, but they often don't receive proper recognition or credit for their hard work

It's a matter of time before the checks all come
It's just a matter of time before immigrants will receive proper recognition for their work

Ay yo aye, immigrants we don't like that
Immigrants do not appreciate being treated unfairly or discriminated against

Na they don't play British empire strikes back
Immigrants are not silently accepting of discrimination and unfair treatment

They beating us like 808's and high hats
Immigrants are often targeted and discriminated against, as if they were a beat in a song

At our own game of invasion, but this ain't Iraq
Immigrants are often portrayed as invaders, but this is not a warzone like Iraq

Who these fugees what did they do for me
Some people may question what immigrants have done for them

But contribute new dreams
Immigrants bring new aspirations and ideas to a country

Taxes and tools, swagger and food to eat
Immigrants not only contribute to society through paying taxes, but also by bringing their unique culture and cuisine to a new country

Cool, they flee war zones, but the problem ain't ours
While immigrants may come from war zones, the issue of immigration is not just limited to war-torn countries

Even if our bombs landed on them like the Mayflower
The Mayflower, a symbol of hope and new beginnings, brought immigrants to America. However, modern-day bombs and war create a different kind of immigration

Buckingham Palace or Capitol Hill
Both in England and the United States, the places of power were built by immigrants and workers who were not given proper credit

Blood of my ancestors had that all built
Immigrants and their ancestors have contributed greatly to building the society we live in today

It's the ink you print on your dollar bill, oil you spill
The wealth and power of some countries comes from resources such as oil, which negatively affects other countries and contributes to immigration

Thin red lines on the flag you hoist when you kill
The United States flag represents freedom, but its thin red lines also remind us of the blood shed in wars that have contributed to immigration

But still we just say "look how far I come"
Despite the hardships and challenges that immigrants face, they still persevere and make progress

Hindustan, Pakistan, to London
Immigrants come from all over the world to various countries, including India, Pakistan, and England

To a galaxy far from their ignorance
Immigrants often leave behind their old life and customs in pursuit of a better future, far from the ignorance of their past

'Cause
The following lines of the song will provide an explanation or reason for the previous statements

Por tierra o por agua
Immigrants will come to a new country by any means necessary

Identidad falsa
Undocumented immigrants often have fake identities or information to avoid detection

Brincamos muros o flotamos en balsas
Immigrants cross borders by jumping over walls or floating on rafts

La peleamos como Sandino en Nicaragua
Immigrants fight and struggle just as hard as Sandino did in Nicaragua

Somos como las plantas que crecen sin agua
Immigrants are like plants that grow without water, adapting to their new environment and making the best of it

Sin pasaporte americano
Undocumented immigrants do not have an American passport

Porque la mitad de gringolandia es terreno mexicano
Much of the United States belonged to Mexico in the past

Hay que ser bien hijo de puta
People who treat immigrants unfairly are bad people

Nosotros les sembramos el árbol y ellos se comen la frutas
Immigrants work hard and make contributions to society, but they often don't receive the benefits or recognition for their work

Somos los que cruzaron
Immigrants are the ones who crossed borders to pursue a better life

Aquí vinimos a buscar el oro que nos robaron
Immigrants came to America in search of a better life and opportunities that they believe were taken away from them in their home countries

Tenemos mas trucos que la policía secreta
Immigrants have more tricks and ways to get around the law than even the secret police

Metimos la casa completa en una maleta
Immigrants bring with them their whole lives and possessions in one suitcase when they cross borders

Con un pico, una pala
Immigrants work hard with only the simplest tools, such as shovels and pickaxes

Y un rastrillo
Immigrants make do with whatever tools they can find to get the job done

Te construimos un castillo
Immigrants work hard to build and create wonderful things for society

Como es que dice el coro cabrón?
The following lines will repeat the song's chorus in Spanish