Story Behind The Song

"Home of the Brave (Immigrants and Pilgrims and Refugees)".....The Story Behind the Song My father was a Mennonite minister. When I was in high school, we lived in a small farm community in central Illinois. 2500 hard working folks.....all of us of European descent. Around my junior year, my dad became passionate about the civil rights movement. And he began preaching from his pulpit about justice and a big love that transcends political and racial divides. I honor my father for who he was. And for the stand that he took. He passed along to me his love of humanity....a sense that we are all one. I also inherited his voice.....the need to speak out when my heart is broken by what I see. It's clear that there is a worldwide crisis concerning immigration and the thousands upon thousands of refugees. My heart is breaking as a mother is separated from her children, and deported from our country....as people flee their war-torn homeland, hoping to find a new home for themselves and their children, only to find closed doors. In February of 2017 I wrote "Home of the Brave (Immigrants and Pilgrims and Refugees)" with Karen Drucker and David Roth. We found that we had a common concern about the state of our country and the world, and we did our best to approach this complicated subject with heart and humanity. I remember the words of Martin Niemöller, the German pastor, who after World War II said.... First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me.

Lyrics

Home of the Brave (Immigrants and Pilgrims and Refugees)
Words and Music by JD Martin, David Roth, Karen Drucker

For the past four years Guadalupe checked in
To the Phoenix office of immigration
Both of her kids, US born
But everything changed the day that they took her away

In the home the brave and the land of the free
We are immigrants and pilgrims and refugees
From every nation, one family
When you come for Guadalupe.....You come for me

For the past two years Kamal made his rounds
Interfaith Medical Center, New York City
He went to Sudan to visit his mom
But everything changed, he couldn't come back, he was stranded

In the home the brave and the land of the free
We are immigrants and pilgrims and refugees
From every nation, one family
When you come for Kamal.....You come for me

Give me your tired, your poor, huddled masses
This is America, built by dreamers.....Yearning to breathe free

If I had to leave my country, what would I do
If the way I dressed was a trigger for you
If I'm not welcome here where would I go
Could I sail away on an unknown ocean of hope

chorus
In the home the brave and the land of the free
We are immigrants and pilgrims and refugees
From every nation, one family
When you come for Guadalupe
When you come for Kamal
When you come for my neighbor
You come for me

© 2017 Gill 'n' Goldie Music, Maythelight Music (ASCAP), TayToones Music (BMI)