Harbors open their arms to the young searching foreigner Come to live in the light of the beacon of liberty Plains and open skies billboards would advertise Was it anything like that when you arrived? Dream boats carried the future to the heart of America People were waiting in line for a place by the river It was a time when strangers were welcome here Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room That people could come from everywhere Now he arrives with his hopes and his heart set on miracles Come to marry his fortune with a handful of promises To find they've closed the door, they don't want him anymore There isn't anymore to go around Turning away, he remembers he once heard a legend That spoke of a mystical magical land called America There was a time when strangers were welcome here Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room That people could come from everywhere There was a time when strangers were welcome here Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear There was a time when strangers were welcome here Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear