Emigranz
(Soundtrack for an imaginary movie)
Based on the Norwegian immigration to New Zealand in the 1870s

Words & music: Henrik Wigestrand

Well, I'm standing in the doorway, and it's 1875,
it's two years since we left Norway, and we're glad we're still alive.
We were poorest of the poor back in the dark Norwegian woods,
But we had a house and home there, and I'd go back if I could.
But my father always said,
Son, whatever you are looking for
then always look ahead.

Well, our journey was a nightmare
on our way to the unknown.
But some day we'll be all right here
with the seeds that we have sown.
And this will not be in vain
if the coming generation
doesn't need to share our pain.

Sometimes I just get this feelin'
I could grow to like New Zealand.
If it wasn't for the times that I was down on my knees
and we couldn't see New Zealand for the trees.

Now it can only can get better,
so we said, and it got worse.
Like the governmental letter
for the need to reimburse
Broken backs and broken promises
and broken English, too,
Even if we pulled the shortest straw
we knew we would pull through
But my father always said,
Although everything is looking down,
then always look ahead.

Sometimes I just get this feelin'
I could grow to like New Zealand.
But the later waves of immigrants would also stand and weep,
'cause they couldn't see New Zealand for the sheep.