Am G F C Am G F C  
 
Am    G            F         C 
I was driving down Ninth Avenue 
Am     G       F       C      
As the sky was getting dark 
Am     G            F       C 
Didn't have nothin' else to do 
Am           G         F       C 
So I kept on riding to Battery Park 
Am            G               F     C 
I stepped out in the damp and misty night 
Am     G       F       C       
As the fog was rollin' in 
Am         G         F          C 
Man said, "Last boat leaving tonight 
Am              G     F    C 
Is the boat for Ellis Island 
 
Am G F C Am G F C 
 
Am    G            F     C 
As my feet touched solid ground, 
Am       G         F       C 
I felt a chill run down my spine 
Am      G      F        C 
I could almost hear the sound 
Am           G       F           C 
Of thousands pushing through the lines 
Am      G        F     C 
Mothers and bewildered wives 
Am          G          F      C   
That sailed across the raging sea 
Am     G       F         C 
Others runnin' for their lives 
Am          G  F      C 
To the land of opportunity 
Am         G     F    C     
Oh down on Ellis Island 
Bb                   F 
What is this strange paradise 
Am                                F 
They must've wondered through the cries and moans 
Bb             F 
After all they sacrificed, 
      Gm                     Bb          Am       F C 
Their faith, their families, friends and homes 
Am          G       F  C 
Then on the separation stairs 
Am       G                F       C   
They were counted out, or counted in 
Am     G         F         C 
Frozen while the inspector stared 
Am      G     F   C 
Down on Ellis Island 
Am         G     F   C   
Oh down on Ellis Island 
Bb     F    Am      F 
Who-o-oh     yea-a-ah 
Bb      F      Am F C  
Am       G    F        C 
Now me I only stumbled in 
Am      G                  F     C 
Just to wander around that empty hall 
Am             G     F        C 
Where someone else's fate had been 
Am      G      F       C  
Decided in no time at all 
Am    G           F        C 
Cases filled with hats and clothes 
Am      G                       F         C 
And the belongings of those who journeyed far 
Am              G         F      C 
They're strange reminders I suppose 
Am             G        F      C  
Of where we're from and who we are 
Am         G           F       C  
But as the boat pulled off the shore 
Am      G               F   C 
I could see the fog was lifting 
Am         G         F    C 
And lights I'd never seen before 
Am                   G     F    C 
Were shining down on Ellis Island 
Am              G     F    C 
Shining down on Ellis Island 
 
Am G F C Am G F C 

Atlantic Records 1997 
Museum Steps Music(ASCAP)