I first heard Steve Earle’s song “City of Immigrants” when it was released on his 2007 album Washington Square Serenade. Being a big-time Earle fan, I listened to all his new music as soon as it came out. I liked the song immediately. Its bouncy melody and message of inclusion and diversity are right up my alley.
But I don’t know that I really heard it until about ten years later, when I first saw Earle perform it live. It was in the now-closed City Winery in Washington, DC – a city of immigrants if ever there was one. Hearing him introduce the song and then sing in the intimate space hit me harder than the studio version.
I should also admit that hearing him live – and solo – mitigated the extended bridge that dominates the second half of the studio version song, a bit to its detriment. The brief, chorus-sung lyrical phrase that makes up that bridge –
“All of us are immigrants
Every daughter, every son
Everyone is everyone
All of us are immigrants”
... is fine in and of itself. I just find it goes on too long and detracts from the rest of the song. Singing by himself, it didn’t seem as invasive.
Steve Earle rereleases a classic just when we need it most
This week, Earle released a new video of the almost-20-year-old song. The timing is highly intentional.
Celebrated actor Steve Buscemi directs the video, which is essentially a mini-travelogue through the streets and neighborhoods of Manhattan and some of its fellow boroughs. It is shot in a cinéma vérité style by acclaimed cinematographer Martin DiCicco, who filmed the Sundance award-winning documentary Union in 2024, as well as Brett Story’s climate change doc The Hottest August in 2019.
Buscemi begins with Earle taking the stage at New York’s Gramercy Theater with an odd stringed instrument called a bouzouki. He explains that it is Greek in origin, but he tunes it more like a traditional Irish instrument. And that type of cross-fertilization is why he considers it the perfect instrument for this song.
Then, we move outside as Earle traverses the city, exchanging greetings and high fives with the diverse population. As he does, his lyrics drive home the point …
“Livin’ in a city of immigrants
I don’t need to go travelin’
Open up my door and the world walks in
Livin’ in a city of immigrants.”
That line – “open up my door and the world walks in” – is about as good a description of the hottest-button issue facing not just the USA, but the entire planet right now. Earle chooses to highlight the creative beauty in that diversity. Many others do not agree. They see the danger in open doors and open borders.
But you have to hand it to Earle and his collaborators. They make their case very well. This is a beautiful short film elaborating on a clear and powerful statement. Though inspired to revisit this song and this theme by recent ICE activities in the USA, there is not ever a whiff of controversy or violence in Buscemi’s visuals. They are pure joy. Smiling faces. Dancing feet.
Even my bridge problem, as described above, vanishes in this video. Seeing all those faces renders any complaints trivial.
Steve Earle has been very clear about his political leanings in the past. He comes from the side of outlaw country that considers labor unions and support of the poor as genuine American values.
He considers the vast majority of the nation to be neither red nor blue, but purple, seeking common-sense answers to genuine problems. He has written plenty of songs that make overt political statements along those lines. “City of Immigrants” is among his best.
In 2026, it may well be his most important.
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