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    Green Golly

    • Home
    • Programs on Zoom
      • Reviews
      • Schedule
    • The Creators
      • Press Kit
    • Gallery
    • Golly Good Video
    • Golly Good Animation
    • Workshops and Residencies
      • Green Golly for Business
      • Curriculive
    • Now We Can Sing
      • My First Americans
    • Golly Good Goodies
    • Contact

    What Ever Happened to America? 

    America, America 

    In nineteen hundred and thirty six 

    My Papa left his home 

    He had to get away from there or die 

    He sailed across the sea 

    For a brand new destiny 

    Papa was my family’s first American 

     

    America, America 

    That’s where he had to be 

    America, America 

    He shared its grace with me 

    For I am what he came here for 

    And I am what became 

    Of Papa’s journey to this blessed land 

     

    In nineteen hundred and thirty nine 

    My mama left her home 

    She had to get away from there or die 

    She sailed across the sea 

    Without means or family 

    Arrived alone, oh so alone, but still alive 

     

    America, America 

    That’s where she had to be 

    America, America 

    She shared its grace with me 

    For I am what she came here for 

    And I am what became 

    Of Mama’s journey to this blessed land 

     

    I hope that what I am today 

    Does honor to the dream 

    I hope that what I’m doing 

    Makes them proud 

    I hope I haven’t stomped upon the hard times and the tears 

    I hope that what I’m singing is their song! 

     

    This land was never perfect 

    But it was built upon an idea 

    Of freedom and respect for all who show up on its shores 

    We have to keep a light 

    Burning steady, strong and bright 

    We’re a haven for the suffering ones who need a home 

     

    America, America 

    That’s where I want to be 

    America, America 

    Let’s share it gracefully 

    For that is what we are all about 

    It’s the ground where we all stand 

    We’re all immigrants who’ve journeyed from foreign land 

    We’re all refugees who’ve journeyed to a foreign land 

    It’s a miracle we’ve made it to the promise of this land!

     

    Words & Music by Keith Torgan for Max Siesel and Anne Stein Siesel

    03/03/2020

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    Dear Visitor, 

    I'm the first of my family to be born in the United States. Both of my parents immigrated from Germany in the 1930's to escape persecution and almost certain death. As I am a musician I created a program called Now We Can Sing about the experience of Jewish musicians in Germany after Hitler rose to power in 1933 -- you can find info about it right here on this website.

    In order to generate an America more empathetic to the struggle and worth of the ‘other’ we have initiated this blog as well as a nationwide community of ‘events’ at which people can tell the tale of their family's first Americans by doing something as simple as sharing an old family recipe or as complicated as creating and performing an original song or story”

    We all have a story to tell about the first Americans in our family and this interactive blog is an opportunity for you to share your story. I believe that the more we can share about how we got here the better chance we all have of respecting and being kind to one another. Keith and I look forward to reading and sharing your First American Stories. 

    Looking forward to meeting you and your family in your story,

    Barbara Siesel

     

    02/21/2020

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