i was driving down ninth avenue as the sky was getting dark didn t have nothing else to do so i kept on riding to battery park i stepped out in the damp and misty night as the fog was rolling in man said last boat leaving tonight is the boat for ellis island as my feet touched solid ground i felt a chill run down my spine i could almost hear the sound of thousands pushing through the lines mothers and bewildered wives that sailed across the raging sea others running for their lives to the land of opportunity oh down on ellis island what is this strange paradise they must have wondered through the cries and moans after all they sacrificed their faith their families friends and homes then on the separation stairs they were counted out or counted in frozen while the inspector stared down on ellis island oh down on ellis island  oh yeah yeah me i only stumbled in just to wander around that empty hall where someone else s fate had been decided in no time at all and cases filled with hats and clothes and the belongings of those who journeyed far they re strange reminders i suppose of where we re from and who we are but as the boat pulled off the shore i could see the fog was liftin and lights i d never seen before were shining down on ellis island shining down on ellis island