1. A rock band from … Read Full Bio ↴There are 2 bands under the name of 'The Gang.
1. A rock band from Brooklyn, New York comprising of members Gary Keating, Eva Johannesdottir, Rich Bonner, Mike Roszhart,Danny Leo & Pat Brennan.
Their debut Zero Hits was released on 3rd June, 2008.
http://www.myspace.com/thegangnyc
2. A Hip Hop/Rap group based in Hull, UK.
http://www.myspace.com/growthandnotglory
emigration song
The Gang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Promised a chance of redemption
To the reconstruction army
Whose sunburnt backs had know
The cold sweat of factories
On the foreign cities pavements
Angels and devils played dice
For my people's souls
With their empty tears as friends
They were alone against everyone
And longed for their return.
He came
Across the ocean
Now he works in a restaurant
Once he went to the station
With a case full of hope
When he heard my grandpa's story
He smiled with thoughts of home
And his return
Was a great joy.
The Gang's "Emigration Song" talks about the soldiers who migrated to the North in search of a better life. The lyrics of the song show the promise that the Northbound trains held for those who were part of the reconstruction army. These were individuals who had worked in factories in foreign cities, dealing with long hours and harsh conditions. The soldiers had come to understand the hardships associated with emigration. The song talks about how the angels and devils played dice for the souls of the soldiers. In other words, their fate could go either way, and they were at the mercy of fate.
The next few lines talk about how the soldiers were left with nothing but their empty tears. They were abandoned by everyone and were left to fend for themselves. They longed for the day when they could return home. The lyrics then shift to the story of a man who had migrated to a foreign land in search of a better life. He had come across the ocean and had eventually ended up working in a restaurant. One day, he heard the story of the singer's grandfather, who had migrated in search of a better life. The man smiled at the thought of home and felt joy at the prospect of returning one day.
In summary, the Emigration Song by The Gang is a poignant and reflective piece about the realities of emigration. The song touches on several themes such as hope, loneliness, and the desire for home.
Line by Line Meaning
The northbound trains
Trains heading north promised a possible chance for redemption to a group called the reconstruction army.
Promised a chance of redemption
The northbound trains gave hope for a better future.
To the reconstruction army
This hope was given to a group who knew the cold sweat of factories and had worked on foreign city pavements.
Whose sunburnt backs had known
The group had experienced the sun's effects on their skin from working outside.
The cold sweat of factories
They had worked long hours at factories, producing sweat in the cold atmosphere.
On the foreign cities pavements
They had worked on the pavements in foreign cities.
Angels and devils played dice
The fate of the people was decided by luck.
For my people's souls
This fate was determined for the souls of the artist's people.
But when they turned the light off
When fate seemed to be against them and hope disappeared.
With their empty tears as friends
Their only companions were their own tears.
They were alone against everyone
They felt isolated and alone even when surrounded by others.
And longed for their return
They wished to go back to where they were from and be surrounded by familiar faces.
He came
A person arrived.
Across the ocean
They came from a faraway place over the sea.
Now he works in a restaurant
The person currently works in the food service industry.
Once he went to the station
They had gone to a transportation hub in the past.
With a case full of hope
They carried something containing their positive expectations.
When he heard my grandpa's story
The person listened to a story told by someone's grandfather.
He smiled with thoughts of home
This story made them happy and reminded them of their home back where they came from.
And his return
When they came back.
Was a great joy.
It was an incredibly happy experience.
Contributed by Kayla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maurizio Marcialis
Questa canzone è bellissima!
Roberto Arezzo
Mai più attuale 😢canzone bella e struggente