Immigration Man
Navigating Boundaries: Crosby & Nash's Immigration Man Tale
Lyrics
There I was at the immigration scene
Describing the narrator's presence at an immigration scene.
Shining and feeling clean
Feeling confident and clean, possibly morally.
Could it be a sin?
Raising the question of whether feeling clean could be a sin.
I got stopped by the immigration man
Narrator stopped by an immigration official.
He says he doesn't know if he can.
Uncertainty from the immigration man about allowing entry.
Let me in,
Narrator pleading to be let in.
Let me in, immigration man,
Repetition of the plea, addressing the immigration man.
Can I cross the line and pray
Asking if the narrator can cross the line and hope to stay longer.
I can stay another day
Expressing the desire to extend the stay by another day.
Let me in, immigration man
Repeating the plea to be allowed in by the immigration man.
I won't toe your line today
Declaring the narrator's intention not to conform to restrictions.
I can't see it anyway. Hey hey
Expressing a lack of understanding or agreement with the situation.
There he was with his immigration face
Describing the immigration official with a serious expression.
Giving me a paper chase
Chasing the narrator with paperwork, possibly symbolic of bureaucracy.
But the son was coming
Despite challenges, a positive event (son coming) is mentioned.
Cause all at once he looked into my space
Immigration official looks into the narrator's personal space.
And stamped a number over my face
Official stamps a number on the narrator's face, marking them.
And it sent me running
The action causes the narrator to run away.
Won't you let me in, immigration man
Repetition of the plea to be allowed in by the immigration man.
Can I cross the line and pray
Reiterating the request to cross the line and stay longer.
I can stay another day
Expressing the hope for an extended stay.
Won't you let me in, immigration man
Repeated plea to be allowed in by the immigration man.
I won't toe your line today
Declaring the narrator's refusal to conform to restrictions.
I can't see it anyway.
Reiterating a lack of understanding or agreement with the situation.
Here I am with my immigration form
Narrator has an immigration form, possibly indicating compliance.
It's big enough to keep me warm
Describing the size of the form as substantial for warmth.
When a cold wind's coming
Preparing for challenges symbolized by a cold wind.
So go where you will
Encouraging freedom of movement as long as one believes they can.
As long as you think you can
Warning about watching out for authority figures.
You'd better watch out, watch out for the man
Emphasizing caution regardless of the destination.
Anywhere you're going.
Reiterating the idea of caution in any chosen path.
Come on and let me in, immigration man,
Repetition of the plea, now addressing an "irritation man."
Can I cross the line and pray
Reiterating the desire to cross the line and stay longer.
Take your fingers from the tray.
Suggesting removing obstacles or hindrances.
Let me in, irritation man,
Addressing an "irritation man" instead of immigration man.
I won't toe your line today
Declaring the narrator's refusal to conform to restrictions from irritation.
I can't see it anyway.
Reiterating a lack of understanding or agreement with the situation.
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