Moses Kagan's Aurora Borealis

Lucy surprised me with Springsteen tickets last night. The show (her first, my third) was amazing. Other people have said it better, but let me say it again: Bruce Springsteen is the closest thing we have to an ecumenical, American pope.

He also has some serious balls. The final song last night was American Land: a pro-immigrant song delivered in the heart of Southern California, which was previously the heartland of anti-immigration sentiment (Proposition 187, anyone?).

Here are the last few verses and the chorus, from Springsteen.net:

"The McNicholas, the Posalski's, the Smiths, Zerillis, too
The Blacks, the Irish, Italians, the Germans and the Jews
Come across the water a thousand miles from home
With nothin in their bellies but the fire down below

They died building the railroads worked to bones and skin
They died in the fields and factories names scattered in the wind
They died to get here a hundred years ago they're still dyin now
The hands that built the country were always trying to keep down

There's diamonds in the sidewalk the gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard working man
Who will make his home in the American Land"

Apologies for the off-topic post. More from the Digital Hollywood conference up next.

Labels: immigration, Southern California, Springsteen