This wasn’t exactly the kind of song I was expecting to hear about America.

This is not what I heard about America: the land of opportunity where the streets are paved with gold: a vast land of uncharted territory, rich, fertile soil and willing hands on the plow.

What I heard about America was that it was God’s new country. This was supposed to be the land of wonders which attracts humans like iron filings to a magnet.

So when I turned on the song America by Elijah’s Fire some months ago, I was started. I listened to it over and over: not just because of the great vocalization or excellent beats, but also because of the ironic message

Here are the lyrics of the song:

America

There’s a place people are living

In the streets; ain’t got no home.

Now’s the time people are finding

Ain’t much fun being alone.

Don’t you want to know.

Don’t you wanna go.

Won’t you lend a hand:

Reach out and save this land.

America. America. America

Home of the free.

There’s a place people are dying

From the cold; ain’t got no heat.

There’s a place people are starving.

Ain’t got no food that they can eat.

Don’t you wanna know; don’t you wanna go.

Won’t you lend a hand:

Reach out and try to save this land.

America. America. America.

Home of the free.

There’s a place buildings are falling.

In the streets where people would walk

Rumors of war and violence flaring.

I guess by now you heard all the talk.

Don’t you wanna know;

Don’t you wanna go.

Won’t you lend a hand.

Reach out and try to save this land.

America. America. America.

Home of the free.

America. America. America.

Home of the free.

America. America. America.

America. America. America.

America:

Related: What Guyanese heard about the United States.
Related: A Journey Across Two Seas

Yes, America has had its fair share of violence and war. I guess that’s a side some immigrants never saw or had to deal with. Yes, we should laud the pioneers of this great land for making it what it is today: the land of the free; home of the brave.

Now tell me, what did you hear about America, or its sister Canada? And what did you hear about Estranged Mother England?