Nikki O'Neill

Lyrics

Newcomer Blues
Music & Lyrics by Nikki O’Neill

when you’re brought in the world by parents who have no connection
you’ve got to figure life out on your own
a kid in LA with a grandma who doesn’t speak English
she looked after me when Daddy left Mama alone

I’m a traveler with the newcomer blues
we moved between homes as they gave Mama the news
tenants with kids and pets are banned
our fate was in our hands

one morning my teacher asked us to pledge allegiance
I was six and curious I raised my hand to ask
why do we say justice for all when there isn’t
Ms. Adams had it, she threw me out of her class

I’m a traveler with the newcomer blues
flags and cultures, I’m picking up clues
love for country sure seems grand
my fate is in my hands

I’ve got two hands, two feet and two eyes
I can burst out into laughter or let out a sigh
I breathe air and I’ve got a heartbeat too
I’m made just like you
I’m made just like you

I was seven when Mama met a man from Sweden
we moved to Stockholm and Swedish was hard to learn
kids called me a capitalist, teachers made fun of my English
my stepdad was mean, but I didn’t know where to return

I’m a traveler with the newcomer blues
got stamps in my passport, a new home to lose
common culture, it sure seems grand
my fate is in my hands

mama announced that we’d go to her native Poland
she never explained as we packed up for the train
It rolled from Stockholm to Warsaw during the cold war
I got more impressions than I could ever contain

I’m a traveler with the newcomer blues
cold war shops, people standing in queues
Mama’s got no answers at hand
my fate is in my hands

I’m a traveler with the newcomer blues
got stamps in my passport that I didn’t get to choose
a life without drifting it sure seems grand
my fate is in my hands