Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Robert Hunter
A song written for the stage musical "Cumberland Blues".
An honest day's work for an honest day's pay
That's why I came to the USA
I'm willing to sweat, I'm willing to try
Drink my tears when the well runs dry
Life is hard, I expect no less
Can't do better than my level best
In return for the dollar I receive
That's what I was raised to believe
Immigrant wo-oh
There's more where I come from, don't you know
Immigrant wo-oh
Ten to take my place when it's time to go-o-o-o-o
I give respect where respect is due
And do the job I'm paid to do
But no damned foreman collects my soul
On top of my daily quota of coal
Boss said open your mouth real wide
I'm gonna make you swallow your pride
Now pride ain't something I can digest
Hook to the jaw and you can guess the rest
Immigrant wo-oh
There's more where I come from, don't you know
Immigrant wo-oh
Ten to take my place when it's time to go-o-o-o-o
Since I got laid off I been livin' on air
Riverbed water and prickly pear
But I got no regrets and that's fact
I can face the future with my pride intact
Don't expect nothing that I don't earn
By the sweat off my brow and I'm willing to learn
So here I go where the sun don't shine
To try my luck at the Cumberland mine
------------
Immigrant wo-oh
There's more where you come from, don't you know
Immigrant wo-oh
Ten to take your place when it's time to go-o-o-o-o
I give respect where respect is due
That's all I got to give to you
You taught me a couple of things, old man
And I'll try to use 'em the best I can
Is this the place to make my stand
Lamp on my head and an axe in my hand
It could be better, it could be worse
But life's no stage and you can't rehearse
Immigrant wo-oh
There's more where you come from, don't you know
Immigrant wo-oh
Ten to take your place when it's time to go-o-o-o-o
I been thinkin' it over a lot
What you gotta give for what you got
The old man's gone but what the heck
At least he died with self-respect
If I can do as good as that
I'll die happy though busted flat
If I can find love and a few good friends
I'll cast my lot with the working men
------------
Immigrant wo-oh
There's more where you come from, don't you know
Immigrant wo-oh
Ten to take your place when it's time to go-o-o-o-o
Get good water from a wishing well
So maybe I'll stick around a spell
If I get back as much as I put in
That's good enough, don't need to sin
But if you win big like the old man did
Somebody's bound to raise your bid
That's the game, the way it's played
You dig your grave with your own spade
Immigrant wo-oh
There's more where you come from, don't you know
Immigrant wo-oh
Ten to take your place when it's time to go-o-o-o-o