Immigration Man

Album: Graham Nash/David Crosby (1972)
Charted: 36
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Going through immigration can be very aggravating, but Graham Nash channeled that frustration into a song.

    In the liner notes to the CSN boxed set, he told the story: "I wrote the song after being hassled by a customs official who wasn't going to let me into this country. He held me up for a very long time. Then people started coming up, asking for my autograph, and he let me through immediately. But it still made me angry. I'm not against local color but why should you fight me because you speak differently than I do?"
  • By 1972, fans of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were anxiously awaiting a follow-up to their blockbuster 1970 album Déjà Vu. They had to settle for solo projects and other permutations of the group, as they just couldn't synch to record another album. Graham Nash and David Crosby released a collaborative album (with the uninspired title Graham Nash/David Crosby) in '72 with "Immigration Man" the first single. It did well, reaching #36 in the US, but the album didn't do anywhere near the business as Déjà Vu. Crosby, Stills & Nash (without Young) finally put out another album in 1977 called CSN.
  • Nash sang lead and played piano on this track, with Crosby on guitar and harmony vocals. The lead guitarist is by one of their many very talented friends: Dave Mason. The other musicians are John Barbata on drums and Greg Reeves on bass.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)

Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica)Songwriter Interviews

The former Metallica bassist talks about his first time writing a song with James Hetfield, and how a hand-me-down iPad has changed his songwriting.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Brandi Carlile

Brandi CarlileSongwriter Interviews

As a 5-year-old, Brandi was writing lyrics to instrumental versions lullabies. She still puts her heart into her songs, including the one Elton John sings on.