They came from all around the world
Where "rights" wasn't even a word
From countries where evil ruled all
And freedom could not take hold
With hopes they came for a better life
And worked to make hopes true
Except for where they were first born
People like me and you
But old-time fears give keener sense
To those who joined us here
Before the natives the trouble they smelled
And hard-won freedom held dear
Like Greek soothsayers or Roman geese
They sounded an alarm
For the foes of liberty are in the wings
Ready to do us harm
These people smelled what they knew so well
The rot of bondage and pawn
In which the government gets to tell
And command every man they own
It would behoove native-born to hear
What the refugees have to tell
Lest our land like their old world
Becomes just another hell
And fear we might having to engage
The forces of those who rule
We'll do better while passions rage
Than later when spirit cools
Than later on when our arms are tied
Our hosts disbanded, disarmed
Then we cannot put up much of a fight
And even retreat will be barred
So listen to those who know first-hand
How tyranny gets its start
And while you can, with ballots and lead
Vote and, if need be, fight
Where "rights" wasn't even a word
From countries where evil ruled all
And freedom could not take hold
With hopes they came for a better life
And worked to make hopes true
Except for where they were first born
People like me and you
But old-time fears give keener sense
To those who joined us here
Before the natives the trouble they smelled
And hard-won freedom held dear
Like Greek soothsayers or Roman geese
They sounded an alarm
For the foes of liberty are in the wings
Ready to do us harm
These people smelled what they knew so well
The rot of bondage and pawn
In which the government gets to tell
And command every man they own
It would behoove native-born to hear
What the refugees have to tell
Lest our land like their old world
Becomes just another hell
And fear we might having to engage
The forces of those who rule
We'll do better while passions rage
Than later when spirit cools
Than later on when our arms are tied
Our hosts disbanded, disarmed
Then we cannot put up much of a fight
And even retreat will be barred
So listen to those who know first-hand
How tyranny gets its start
And while you can, with ballots and lead
Vote and, if need be, fight
