Island of Hope

Campbell, Bridgegate Music

“The making of America people say.” Thirty million immigrants including many Scots, passed through Ellis Island, New York. The lyrics are the actual words of Ellis Island immigrants interviewed years later.

When  (Em) first we came in(C) to this land, our  (Am) hearts were full of  (B7) hopes and dreams

Ac (Em) ross the Atlantic  (C) we did sail, up the  (Am) Hudson river to  (B7)Ellis Isle

For  (G) thirty years we  (A) passed this way, the  (C) making of America  (D) people say

(G)  Leaving our past and our  (A) history for a  (C) life forbidden  (D) every (B7) day

(Em) Island of hope,  (C) island of fears,  (Am) island of dreams,(B7) island of tears

(Em) Island of hope,  (C) island of fears,  (Am) island of dreams,(B7) island of tears

When first we left our homeland, our hearts were broken and filled with pain
Homes broken loved ones lost, in a land we never will see again
Living in fear every day of the year, no hope just poverty and endless tears
Some will return most will remain, building a new life in a land of dreams

Island of hope, island of fears, island of dreams, island of tears
Island of hope, island of fears, island of dreams, island of tears

And now we are come to a new land, to cities and towns we don’t know their names
Out of the old world into the new, we’re bound across the rolling plains
This Island stands for all where strands, of poverty and greed drove us from our land
Russians Italians Germans and Poles, the Scots and the Irish and millions more

Island of hope, island of fears, island of dreams, island of tears
Island of hope, island of fears, island of dreams, island of tears
Island of hope, island of fears, island of dreams, island of tears
Island of hope, island of fears, island of dreams, island of tears

Hope, fears, dreams, tears
Hope, fears, dreams, tears
Hope, fears, dreams, tears
Hope, fears, dreams, tears