In a town in southernmost Sicily 在南部的西西里岛小镇

Lived a family too proud to be poor 住着一户人家太骄傲是穷人

In the year that fever took father away 在当年那个发烧了父亲走

They hastened for American shores 他们赶紧为美国海岸

Now a mother and her son are standing in line 现在，一位母亲和她的儿子都在排队

It's a cold day on Ellis Isle 这是在埃利斯岛大冷天

And they look to the Statue of Liberty 他们看向自由女神像

For the boy we have American Life 对于孩子，我们有美国生活

   

Ong is a Laotian refugee 翁诗杰是老挝难民

He works in the audio trade 他的作品在音频行业

The smoke from flux is filling his lungs 从流量的烟是填补他的肺

He's earning minimum wage 他挣​​最低工资

Spending spare time down on 花业余时间下来

San Pablo ave 圣巴勃罗大道

Once a week gets a woman for the night 一周一次得到一个女人过夜

And he writes home tales of prosperity 他写道繁荣的家的故事

For the boy we have American Life 对于孩子，我们有美国生活

   

Bob is an unemployed veteran Bob是一个失业的退伍军人

Born and bred in the South Bronx 生于斯，长于斯，在南布朗克斯

He's living off the streets down in east L.A. 他的生活在街头倒在东洛杉矶

Residing in a cardboard box 居住在一个纸箱

Now he plays a little quit and he has a small dog 现在，他扮演一个有点放弃，他有一个小的狗

Searching for aluminum cans 搜索铝罐

And he hold on tight to his dignity 他紧握他的尊严

He was born into American Life 他出生于美国生活