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About This Track
a patriotic song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond, released in 1980 as part of the The Jazz Singer soundtrack album. The song was a hit single in 1981, reaching number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Although the single version was a studio recording, it sounds live because of crowd overdubs in the song.
The song’s theme is a positive interpretation of the history of immigration to the United States, and seems to take place both during the early 1900s wave as well as in contemporaneous times. Formed of Diamond’s typical combination of powerful melody, dynamic arrangement, and bombastic vocal, it ends with an interpolation of the traditional patriotic song “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”. In Diamond’s concerts, the song is a very popular number both home and abroad, with a large United States flag often displayed from the rafters on cue to the lyric, “Every time that flag’s unfurled / They’re coming to America.”
The song has since been used in a number of contexts, including as a theme song for Michael Dukakis’s 1988 Presidential campaign, because of its immigrant theme. Neil Diamond sang it at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty on the occasion of its one hundredth anniversary. Also, the song was used for conservative talk-show host Ken Hamblin’s Black Avenger radio show prior to commercial breaks.
A Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Will Ferrell as Diamond explains the song as an expression of the singer’s “massive” hatred of immigrants.
The song’s theme is a positive interpretation of the history of immigration to the United States, and seems to take place both during the early 1900s wave as well as in contemporaneous times. Formed of Diamond’s typical combination of powerful melody, dynamic arrangement, and bombastic vocal, it ends with an interpolation of the traditional patriotic song “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”. In Diamond’s concerts, the song is a very popular number both home and abroad, with a large United States flag often displayed from the rafters on cue to the lyric, “Every time that flag’s unfurled / They’re coming to America.”
The song has since been used in a number of contexts, including as a theme song for Michael Dukakis’s 1988 Presidential campaign, because of its immigrant theme. Neil Diamond sang it at the rededication of the Statue of Liberty on the occasion of its one hundredth anniversary. Also, the song was used for conservative talk-show host Ken Hamblin’s Black Avenger radio show prior to commercial breaks.
A Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Will Ferrell as Diamond explains the song as an expression of the singer’s “massive” hatred of immigrants.
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Albums featuring this track
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In My Lifetime
Neil Diamond
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In My Lifetime
Barbra Streisand; Neil Diamond duet with Buy- Download Album
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His Very Best
Neil Diamond Buy- Download Album
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In My Lifetime
Neil Diamond Duet With Barbra Streisand Buy- Download Album
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Shouts
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rikrijean wrote:
A PLEASURE.......
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sirthorty wrote:
my personal fav' of him
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greenvillepa wrote:
Great Song !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ameguin wrote:
Neil Diamond is a great concert!!!
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HelenHennigan wrote:
Saw Neil at Red Sox's Fenway Park a couple of years ago......Was the Best!!!!!
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Andersonsaa wrote:
We R full... No vacancy!
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TonyFridas wrote:
OSAMA IS DEAD AWESOME
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Elodave wrote:
One of the greatest singer-songwriters ever.So many artists have him to thank for their best stuff.Well worth a listen,anytime.
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sirthorty wrote:
what a timeless song - isn't it?
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Andersonsaa wrote:
No more! out of room!.... our tired our hungry!... we did that.... now we tired n hungry.... sorry... ?!
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FICTON1 wrote:
ohhh yes !!!!!! ... *,*
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mer48 wrote:
quiero saber pues soy de argentina para comprar el cd THE JAZZ SINGER ME INTERESARIA saber de donde son ustedes. gracias.!!!!!!!!aqui no lo h e encontrado sniffffffffff gracias
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FICTON1 wrote:
just fantastic .... *,*
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Andersonsaa wrote:
Proud 2 be!...Yea fuck them hebs
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crapisi wrote:
cool song for a jew!!!!
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warren66 wrote:
great song, neil is one of the best ( Jazz Singer)(
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Sam_Paine wrote:
Love how brave people are hiding behind an avatar spewing profanity... Hey @slushie360 you wouldn't know a hero if he died for you.
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Chadcotant wrote:
love Neil
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slushie360 wrote:
guy below me is a hero. TODAY!
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Irena7 wrote:
Great song !!!!!!!
Track Stats
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56,215 Listeners
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