I left my home way back
when I was a young man
I left behind part of my family
many cousins and some friends

Not much clothing in my suit case
and a small over coat just in case
I came in short pants that's all I had
and not another pair to exchange

When I left my little town
I was in my teens
I left with happiness
hoping to find my dream

I remember of that day
when we left with my Dad
My mother not so happy to see us go
when would we be together,
we didn't know

When we got to Palermo
in an old rental car
we saw the little airplane
that would take us this far

Thanks to God we made it
first to Rome then to New York
then the last stop was to Detroit
to meet our American folks

I was hoping to find
the America of my vision
I thought it would have been
chew gum, cow boys and Indians

The new land I came to know
it was all good and more
but the thought of leaving home
it was hard to do it on my own

America, Michigan, Detroit
I have learned and loved
and I have made it my home
It was not easy at first
to learn and grow
for the language I did not know

I grew up in this big City
it was not easy to adjust at once
first for the language and
the people around
then the different way of life
the American style

I married an Italian girl
she was an emigrant too
We both speak Italian and
teach our children too
We both went to school
and got an education
We have raised a family
in the American ways

We now have 10 grandchildren
and I talk about the olden days
how it was back then and how
I grew up without any toys

Many years have gone by
America is my home
I have no regrets
I have loved all along

You never know what lies ahead
for an emigrant young man
destiny calls and you go on
the dream and opportunity
you are so glad you have taken on

Written by, Alfonso Chirco
October 23 2010