American Life by Primus

Artist: Primus

Genre: Pop

Length: 4:30

This is the fourth track on Primus' 1991 album Sailing the Seas of Cheese. The song discusses the views of the United States for those who come here searching for a better life. The song shows that the reality is much more grim than what they may have expected. The song seems to give commentary that American life, for some, is not quite the immaculate dream of a home with white picket fences, but is in fact struggle and poverty for many.

American Life lyrics

In a town in southernmost Sicily
Lived a family too proud to be poor
In the year that fever took father away
They hastened for American shores
Now a mother and her son are standing in line
It's a cold day on Ellis Isle
And they look to the Statue of Liberty
For the boy, we have American Life
Ong is a Laotian refugee
He works in the audio trade
The smoke from flux is filling his lungs
He's earning minimum wage
Spending spare time down on
San Pablo Bay
Once a week gets a woman for the night
And he writes home tales of prosperity
For the boy, we have American Life
Bob is an unemployed veteran
Born and bred in the South Bronx
He's living off the streets down in east L.A
Residing in a cardboard box
Now he plays a little guitar and he has a small dog
Searching for aluminum cans
And he holds on tight to his dignity
He was born into American Life