Song 7 -- Paddy's Lament

This song was written in 1846 - 1847. This song is about an immigrant from Ireland who was trying to make a life for himself in America and escape the famine that was sweeping Ireland. This song told of all the events an immigrant around that time went through. They were forced to fight in the war, and suffered many casualties. This song's story is told event by event, as if each event is happening as the singer sings it. He sings about how he thought America would be a promise land for them, but all they found was war; and they desire to be back home. I didn't like the music part of this song, but I liked the lyrics and the story. This song made me realize that not all the immigrants found a new happy life in America. And, that most of them had suffered a great deal in America, and were not welcomed happily. This song also made me realize that times, concerning immigrants, haven't really changed. Actually, they might have gotten worse. Why can't America except the fact that people want to come here to make a better life for themselves? And, what's so wrong with that?