See the Glory
July 4th was especially festive this year. We spent half the day with friends on a southbound shopping mission and the remaining half celebrating both the nation's day of independence and the birthday of Sonia's boss, Rita, an immigration attorney. The occasions were celebrated at a causal outdoor eatery called The Key Lime House. About 30 family and friends gathered, many of whom stood up and recounted what made the birthday girl special. When it was the guest of honor's turn to say a few words, she rather elegantly paid tribute to our beloved country, and her clients, those who seek to be legitimate citizens. Those who undergo the long, tortuous paper trail that has only become more labyrinthine since that horrible September day almost seven years ago.
Sonia and I compiled a mix CD of tracks dealing with immigrants, the process of immigration, and life in the U S of A. as a birthday gift for Rita. Some obvious choices: Genesis' "Illegal Alien", Sting's "Englishman in New York", as well as some odes to the perils of the journey sung in Spanish, and other curious ditties found on iTunes. Of course, several songs came to mind after the compilation was finalized (yes, seeketh the Vol. II). One of the unfortunate omissions is the stinging title track to Steely Dan's fabulous 1976 album, The Royal Scam. I listened to it again today and its bitter (and frighteningly accurate) lyrics hit me with a sort of clarity I hadn't experienced before, in my 20 + years of awareness of this tune. At once I conjured stark images of so many whose dangerous sojourn lead them to Rita's office. Many before them, not so fortunate. As you recall this past holiday and all of its connotations, think on the words of this sad old tune:
And they wandered in
From the city of St. John
Without a dime
Wearing coats that shined
Both red and green
Colors from their sunny island
From their boats of iron
They looked upon the promised land
Where surely life was sweet
On the rising tide
To New York City
Did they ride into the street
See the glory
Of the royal scam
They are hounded down
To the bottom of a bad town
Amid the ruins
Where they learn to fear
An angry race of fallen kings
Their dark companions
While the memory of
Their southern sky was clouded by
A savage winter
Every patron saint
Hung on the wall, shared the room
With twenty sinners
See the glory
Of the royal scam
By the blackened wall
He does it all
He thinks he's died and gone to heaven
Now the tale is told
By the old man back home
He reads the letter
How they are paid in gold
Just to babble in the back room
All night and waste their time
And they wandered in
From the city of St. John without a dime
See the glory
Of the royal scam
Sonia and I compiled a mix CD of tracks dealing with immigrants, the process of immigration, and life in the U S of A. as a birthday gift for Rita. Some obvious choices: Genesis' "Illegal Alien", Sting's "Englishman in New York", as well as some odes to the perils of the journey sung in Spanish, and other curious ditties found on iTunes. Of course, several songs came to mind after the compilation was finalized (yes, seeketh the Vol. II). One of the unfortunate omissions is the stinging title track to Steely Dan's fabulous 1976 album, The Royal Scam. I listened to it again today and its bitter (and frighteningly accurate) lyrics hit me with a sort of clarity I hadn't experienced before, in my 20 + years of awareness of this tune. At once I conjured stark images of so many whose dangerous sojourn lead them to Rita's office. Many before them, not so fortunate. As you recall this past holiday and all of its connotations, think on the words of this sad old tune:
And they wandered in
From the city of St. John
Without a dime
Wearing coats that shined
Both red and green
Colors from their sunny island
From their boats of iron
They looked upon the promised land
Where surely life was sweet
On the rising tide
To New York City
Did they ride into the street
See the glory
Of the royal scam
They are hounded down
To the bottom of a bad town
Amid the ruins
Where they learn to fear
An angry race of fallen kings
Their dark companions
While the memory of
Their southern sky was clouded by
A savage winter
Every patron saint
Hung on the wall, shared the room
With twenty sinners
See the glory
Of the royal scam
By the blackened wall
He does it all
He thinks he's died and gone to heaven
Now the tale is told
By the old man back home
He reads the letter
How they are paid in gold
Just to babble in the back room
All night and waste their time
And they wandered in
From the city of St. John without a dime
See the glory
Of the royal scam
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