There would have been nothin’ left to do

For someone less astute

He woulda been dead or destitute

Without a cent of restitution

Started workin', clerkin' for his late mother's landlord

Tradin’ sugar cane and rum and all the things he can’t afford

Scammin' for every book he can get his hands on

Plannin' for the future see him now as he stands on

The bow of a ship headed for a new land

In New York you can be a new man

The ship is in the harbor now

See if you can spot him

Another immigrant

Comin’ up from the bottom

His enemies destroyed his rep

America forgot him