Album Cover for The Immigrant Ballads, Vol. 1 by Maestro Sersea
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
I left from a place where the road was tough,
No turning back, yeah, I’ve had enough.
Chasing dreams in the land of the free,
I want to be my best, just wait and see.
Counted every blessing, and I’m feeling alive,
In America now, I’ve got the drive.
With open arms, you welcomed me in,
Together with faith, I know we’ll win.
[Chorus]
I’m rolling up my sleeves, I’m ready to work,
Got a heart full of hope and a spirit that won’t shirk.
I’ve got lots to give, I’m reaching for the top,
With love in our hearts, there’s no way we’ll stop.
Generations ago, you’ve walked this line,
No one gave up, and I’ll follow your sign.
[Verse 2]
I’ve seen struggle and I’ve felt the pain,
But through every storm, I’ll dance in the rain.
Nothing easy comes, it’s a hard-fought fight,
But I’m willing to do what it takes to make it right.
Through hard times and trials, I’ll stand tall and proud,
With my roots held deep, I’ll shout it loud.
America, oh land of my dreams,
Together we’ll rise, bursting at the seams.
[Chorus]
I’m rolling up my sleeves, I’m ready to work,
Got a heart full of hope and a spirit that won’t shirk.
I’ve got lots to give, I’m reaching for the top,
With love in our hearts, there’s no way we’ll stop.
Generations ago, you’ve walked this line,
No one gave up, and I’ll follow your sign.
[Bridge]
So here’s to the journey, come join hand in hand,
Together we’ll build across this great land.
With unity strong, there’s nothing we lack,
With faith and with love, there’s no looking back.
[Chorus]
I’m rolling up my sleeves, I’m ready to work,
Got a heart full of hope and a spirit that won’t shirk.
I’ve got lots to give, I’m reaching for the top,
With love in our hearts, there’s no way we’ll stop.
Generations ago, you’ve walked this line,
No one gave up, and I’ll follow your sign.
[Outro]
So thank you for welcoming me here today,
With dreams we’ll forge, we’re paving the way.
Together we’ll rise, with our heads held high,
In the land of the brave, we’ll reach for the sky.
“Ready to Work” – Analysis
Gratitude Meets Determination
“Ready to Work” strikes a delicate balance between expressing genuine gratitude for American opportunity and asserting immigrant agency and contribution. The song opens with escape from hardship—”the road was tough”—but pivots immediately to proactive determination rather than victimhood. This immigrant has left a difficult past and arrived ready to build, not to be rescued.
The Language of Welcome and Reciprocity
A striking element is the repeated acknowledgment of being “welcomed.” Lines like “with open arms, you welcomed me in” express appreciation for acceptance, yet this isn’t subservient. Instead, the song frames welcome as a mutual transaction: America opens its doors, and the immigrant responds with work ethic, hope, and contribution. There’s reciprocity rather than one-directional charity.
Honoring Historical Continuity
The chorus references “generations ago, you’ve walked this line / No one gave up,” connecting contemporary immigrants to historical waves of immigration and internal migration. This grounds the current immigrant experience within a longer American narrative, suggesting that struggle and perseverance aren’t new—they’re part of America’s foundational story. The immigrant isn’t an outsider but part of an ongoing tradition.
Realism About Hardship
The song doesn’t minimize difficulty. “I’ve seen struggle,” “hard-fought fight,” and “hard times and trials” acknowledge real obstacles. Yet crucially, hardship doesn’t prevent action—it motivates it. The image of dancing “in the rain” reframes adversity as something to move through rather than be defeated by.
Unity as Strength
The repeated call to “come join hand in hand” and “together we’ll build” emphasizes collective effort over individual advancement. Success isn’t about outcompeting others but about shared uplift. This vision of integrated, collaborative nation-building challenges divisive rhetoric around immigration.
Gratitude Without Servility
The outro’s “thank you for welcoming me” expresses genuine appreciation without diminishing immigrant worth. The immigrant isn’t begging for acceptance but acknowledging kindness while confidently asserting “we’re paving the way”—claiming active agency in shaping America’s future.
“Ready to Work” ultimately celebrates the immigrant as contributor and partner in building America’s future.
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