Veteran singer-songwriter-actor Steve Earle and veteran actor-director Steve Buscemi are two people who would seem to have known each other for ages. Their work, whether it’s Earle’s vast catalog of songs (“Copperhead Road,” “Guitar Town”) and acting roles (“The Wire,” “Treme,” “Leaves of Grass”), or Buscemi’s formidable history of acting and directing (“Fargo,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “The Big Lebowski,” “The Sopranos,” “Boardwalk Empire”), shares a certain humanity, sensitivity and sensibilities.
Yet the two actually met for the first time earlier this year, after Buscemi was suggested as a director for a new video for Earle’s 2007 song “City of Immigrants” from his New York-themed album “Washington Square Serenade.” The video is a heartfelt, lively celebration of the polyglot melting pot that New York City has always been, created by two longtime residents.
Earle and Buscemi, together with a small cast of extras and technicians, were together in the East Village one sunny spring afternoon in April to shoot footage for the clip, which features people from the city’s countless ethnic groups, along with shots of Earle walking the streets and singing the in several different neighborhoods — also including Jackson Heights in Queens, which the singer describes as “easily the most diverse neighborhood in the country” — and performing a concert at the Gramercy Theater.
Steve Earle has never been afraid to speak his mind even if it loses him fans. He was singing about gun violence and attacking the NRA back in the 80's when it was deeply unpopular. He made a whole album against the war in Iraq when most of the country, especially his Copperhead Road fans, were supporting it. He has sung about the children of Gaza long before anyone was talking about Palestine. Seeing him stand up for immigrants is not surprising. Beautiful song.
Letra
Livin' in a city of immigrants
I don't need to go travelin'
Open my door and the world walks in
Livin' in a city of immigrants
Livin' in a city that never sleeps
My heart keepin' time to a thousand beats
Singin' in languages I don't speak
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of black
City of white
City of light
City of innocents
City of sweat
City of tears
City of prayers
City of immigrants
Livin' in a city where the dreams of men
Reach up to touch the sky and then
Tumble back down to earth again
Livin' in a city that never quits
Livin' in a city where the streets are paved
With good intentions and a people's faith
In the sacred promise a statue made
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of stone
City of steel
City of wheels
Constantly spinnin'
City of bone
City of skin
City of pain
City of immigrants
All of us are immigrants
Every daughter, every son
Everyone is everyone
All of us are immigrants - everyone
Livin' in a city of immigrants
River flows out and the sea rolls in
Washin' away nearly all of my sins
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of black
City of white
City of light
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of sweat
City of tears
City of prayers
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of stone
City of steel
City of wheels
Livin' in a city of immigrants
City of bone
City of skin
City of pain
City of immigrants
All of us are immigrants
