[00:48.140]In a town in southernmost Sicily
[00:50.460]Lived a family too proud to be poor
[00:54.390]In the year that fever took father away
[00:56.650]They hastened for American shores
[00:58.660]Now a mother and her son are standing in line
[01:02.320]It’s a cold day on Ellis Isle
[01:04.500]And they look to the Statue of Liberty
[01:08.240]For the boy we have American Life
[01:18.280]Ong is a Laotian refugee
[01:37.990]He works in the audio trade
[01:39.160]The smoke from flux is filling his lungs
[01:41.660]He’s earning minimum wage
[01:43.670]Spending spare time down on
[01:46.710]San Pablo ave
[01:47.710]Once a week gets a woman for the night
[01:49.530]And he writes home tales of prosperity
[01:51.860]For the boy we have American Life
[01:58.740]Bob is an unemployed veteran
[03:05.070]Born and bred in the South Bronx
[03:07.890]He’s living off the streets down in east L.A.
[03:10.450]Residing in a cardboard box
[03:12.860]Now he plays a little quit and he has a small dog
[03:16.170]Searching for aluminum cans
[03:17.550]And he hold on tight to his dignity
[03:20.920]He was born into American Life