Colombian singer-songwriter dedicates song to Dreamers
By JUAN GASTELUM
Channel: Immigration
Colombian singer-songwriter Andres Useche has written a song in support of the DREAM Act, a legislative proposal that would provide a path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants who came to United States as children. Useche, who now lives in Los Angeles, first performed the song in January during a statewide conference for Dreamers in Texas, according to his blog.
“The DREAM Act would save many undocumented young students from being deported and allow them a chance to give back to the country they grew up in, the country they love,” Useche wrote in his blog. “I am in awe of the DREAMers I’ve had the honor of meeting and I am constantly inspired by their efforts to better themselves and society as a whole.”
Useche is best-know for co-directing and performing in a video called “Si Se Puede Cambiar,” which he released in support of President Obama during his 2008 presidential bid. In 2010, he also wrote a song and directed a video in response to Arizona’s immigration law.
LYRICS:
“Dream to Belong”
By Andres Useche
He may be from out of town, he may be from way down south,
but he was brought here as a child and he grew up in this house
he learned while in school of a light many had seen
guiding the tired and the poor yearning to be free
beacon of light / beacon of hope
keep shining bright / unite the dreams of us all
everyone deserves to learn / every child deserves to dream
when they only want to serve /when they want a chance to give
We dream to belong
DREAMERS HOLD ON HOLD ON
for every child who did nothing wrong
DREAMERS HOLD ON HOLD ON
to the dream
she met a boy and fell in love
and she dreamed she could belong
until ICE raided her home
and could deport her before long
she had learned while in school
about a torch many had seen
guiding the tired and poor
yearning to be free
beacon of light / beacon of hope
keep shining bright / unite the dreams of us all
everyone deserves to learn / every child deserves to dream
when they only want to serve /when they want a chance to give
We dream to belong
DREAMERS HOLD ON HOLD ON
for every child who did nothing wrong
DREAMERS HOLD ON HOLD ON
to the dream
Yo, no dejo de buscar /una luz, una señal/
danos la oportunidad/de hacer el sueño realidad
We dream to belong
DREAMERS HOLD ON HOLD ON
for every child who did nothing wrong
DREAMERS HOLD ON HOLD ON
to the dream
Together We’ll make the dream come true
Together We’ll make the dream come true
We dream to belong
DREAMERS HOLD ON HOLD ON
for every child who did nothing wrong
DREAMERS HOLD ON HOLD ON
to the dream
a child who did nothing wrong
this is the place she calls home
where he lives and where she hopes
that where you love is where you belong.
—
SONG CREDITS:
Music & Lyrics by Andres Useche
Produced by Andres Useche
Band credits:
Andres Useche: Lead vocals, Piano, sequences
Oya Thomas: Backing vocals
Gyeom Lee: Lead and rhythm guitars
Tom Staunton: Bass guitar
Konstantine Pope: mixer, string arrangements, drums
Marili Andre: backing vocals
George Shaw: partial vocal recording engineer
