ILLEGAL ALIEN ILLEGAL ALIEN by GENESISby GENESIS

Mexican Illegal Immigration to the Mexican Illegal Immigration to the United States of AmericaUnited States of America

ANALISIS OF THE LYRICS

LYRICS BACKGROUND:LYRICS BACKGROUND:

Immigration has held a major Immigration has held a major

role in shaping the United States ofrole in shaping the United States of

America.America.

Immigrants have always come to America lookingImmigrants have always come to America looking

for a better life but Americans are alwaysfor a better life but Americans are always

forgetting their forefathers were one looking forforgetting their forefathers were one looking for

that same life (pilgrim’s fathers).that same life (pilgrim’s fathers).

Beginning 20Beginning 20thth century: century:

Businessmen wanted immigrantsBusinessmen wanted immigrants

because they considered them because they considered them

cheap laborcheap labor. .

Worlds War II: Americans looked abroad forWorlds War II: Americans looked abroad for

workers to support a wartime economy.workers to support a wartime economy.

Program Program BraceroBracero: Mexican workers allowed to : Mexican workers allowed to

work on American farms and work on American farms and

railroads. railroads.

1964: End 1964: End BraceroBracero program. program.

Immigrants continued arriving inImmigrants continued arriving in

America without papers. America without papers.

Undocumented migration began: migrantsUndocumented migration began: migrants

worked temporarily under the threat ofworked temporarily under the threat of

deportation. deportation.

American-Mexican border: primary control toAmerican-Mexican border: primary control to

regulate flow of immigrants.regulate flow of immigrants.

1983: 1983: Heavy flow of MexicansHeavy flow of Mexicansto the States due to economic crisisto the States due to economic crisisin Mexico. in Mexico.

Illegal immigrants: pool Illegal immigrants: pool of exploitable labor.of exploitable labor.They worked long hours, hard, and cheap.They worked long hours, hard, and cheap.

The States: it developed an economy of lowThe States: it developed an economy of lowprices of everyday goods because of prices of everyday goods because of undocumented workers (illegal immigrants).undocumented workers (illegal immigrants).

American people wanted to stopAmerican people wanted to stopillegal immigration: they believedillegal immigration: they believedimmigrants competed for jobs andimmigrants competed for jobs anddepressed wages and job standards.depressed wages and job standards.

Labor Unions and liberal politicians attackedLabor Unions and liberal politicians attackedillegal immigration. Opposition came fromillegal immigration. Opposition came fromemployers groups: they relied on illegalemployers groups: they relied on illegalImmigrants to continue working at low cost.Immigrants to continue working at low cost.

Result: no action was taken to impose Result: no action was taken to impose penalties against employers who hired penalties against employers who hired

illegal immigrants.illegal immigrants.

Song: Song: Illegal AlienIllegal Alien by Genesis by Genesis

(Phil Collins).(Phil Collins).

Cheerful, humorous look at the Cheerful, humorous look at the

frustrations an illegal Mexican immigrant facesfrustrations an illegal Mexican immigrant faces

when he tries to illegally enter the United States. when he tries to illegally enter the United States.

Even though the lyrics are satirical, some Even though the lyrics are satirical, some listeners listeners

perceive it to be racially offensive. perceive it to be racially offensive.

Name of the song: Name of the song: Illegal AlienIllegal Alien

Alien: Alien: ‘very different in nature ‘very different in nature or character, esp. so different as to or character, esp. so different as to cause dislike or opposition.’ (cause dislike or opposition.’ (Longman Longman dictionary). Negative connotation –dictionary). Negative connotation –dehumanizing aspect. dehumanizing aspect.

Video imagery: Mexicans stereotypicallyVideo imagery: Mexicans stereotypicallyportrayed: portrayed: drinkers, sleeping late as lazy people,drinkers, sleeping late as lazy people,playing Mariachi music, wearing a toupee orplaying Mariachi music, wearing a toupee or huge sombreros or serapes. huge sombreros or serapes.

First stanza: First stanza:

GOT OUT OF BED, WASN’T FEELING TOO GOODGOT OUT OF BED, WASN’T FEELING TOO GOODWITH MY WALLET AND MY PASSPORT, A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.WITH MY WALLET AND MY PASSPORT, A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.

THE SUN IS SHINING SO I HEAD FOR THE PARK,THE SUN IS SHINING SO I HEAD FOR THE PARK,WITH A BOTTLE OF TEQUILA, AND A NEW PACK OF WITH A BOTTLE OF TEQUILA, AND A NEW PACK OF

CIGARETTES.CIGARETTES.

We have a Mexican Phil Collins We have a Mexican Phil Collins getting up late with a bad hangover. getting up late with a bad hangover. He obviously does not have a job. He obviously does not have a job. He immediately heads to the bar withHe immediately heads to the bar with a bottle of Tequila, appearing like a a bottle of Tequila, appearing like a drunker. drunker.

Chorus: Chorus: IT’S NO FUN BEING AN ILLEGAL ALIEN, NOIT’S NO FUN BEING AN ILLEGAL ALIEN, NO

IT’S NO FUN BEING AN ILLEGAL ALIENIT’S NO FUN BEING AN ILLEGAL ALIEN

Illegal immigrants Illegal immigrants DO NOTDO NOT have have

fun trying to enter the States. They exposefun trying to enter the States. They expose

themselves to serious dangers. Police canthemselves to serious dangers. Police can

intercept and deport them; big organizationsintercept and deport them; big organizations

can traffic them for exploitation. Womencan traffic them for exploitation. Women

expose themselves to be raped andexpose themselves to be raped and

be kept at houses of prostitution.be kept at houses of prostitution.

Other stanza: Other stanza:

OVER THE BORDER, THER LIES THE PROMISED LANDOVER THE BORDER, THER LIES THE PROMISED LAND

WHERE EVERYTHING COMES EASY, YOU JUST HOLD OUT YOURWHERE EVERYTHING COMES EASY, YOU JUST HOLD OUT YOUR

HANDHAND

Immigrants emigrate in search of aImmigrants emigrate in search of a

higher standard of life, dreaming in higher standard of life, dreaming in

fulfilling their fulfilling their American Dream. American Dream. When theyWhen they

arrive the face: maltreatment, exploitation, arrive the face: maltreatment, exploitation,

harassment, exclusion, intolerance, harassment, exclusion, intolerance,

and indifference. and indifference.

Other Stanza:Other Stanza:

KEEP YOUR SUSPICIONS, I’VE SEEN THAT LOOK BEFOREKEEP YOUR SUSPICIONS, I’VE SEEN THAT LOOK BEFORE

BUT I AIN’T DONE NOTHING WRONG NOW, IS THAT SUCH ABUT I AIN’T DONE NOTHING WRONG NOW, IS THAT SUCH A

SURPRISESURPRISE

Even if he has done nothing wrong,Even if he has done nothing wrong,

people look at him with suspicion.people look at him with suspicion.

(negative attitudes towards immigrants). (negative attitudes towards immigrants). PhilPhil

Collins sings Collins sings ‘‘ain’t done nothing wrongain’t done nothing wrong NOW’, NOW’,

Does it mean he is going to do Does it mean he is going to do

anything wrong?anything wrong?

CONCLUSION:CONCLUSION:

What’s next? Difference defines What’s next? Difference defines

our world. Race, gender, and our world. Race, gender, and

sexuality are everywhere. sexuality are everywhere.

Ideal world: difference should not matter. WeIdeal world: difference should not matter. We

must confront difference. People often use themust confront difference. People often use the

idea of being different to oppress and exploitidea of being different to oppress and exploit

others. It is a labyrinth in which we must get lostothers. It is a labyrinth in which we must get lost

if we are to ever find our way toif we are to ever find our way to

understanding. understanding.