Lyrics Original Translation Bilingual
I will be a proper person People will look up to me What a girl, that girl McGowan Katie Violet, Maud Marie I aspire to heights of glory In the new world that can be In that grandest nation I'll stand tall Reach my very highest hopes of all I want to be a lady's maid Lady's maid in America In America, the streets are paved with gold I want to be a governess Governess in America "In America, it's better," I am told I want to be a sewing girl Sewing girl in America In America, I'll sew 'til I am old There's a place called Chicago I've seen it on the map There's a place called Maryland I've seen it on the map There's a place in America Called Albuquerque And I'm hopin' it's a bit like Donegal Oh, I'm hopin' that it is There I'm hopin' that it is Where my dreamin', and my hopin', and my schemin' And my prayin', and my wishin' to be happy Will come true enough and I want to be an engineer (Oh, I will be grand) an engineer In America, the streets are paved with gold (the streets are paved with gold) I want a shop to call my own (Oh, I will be grand) to call my own "In America, it's better," I am told ("In America, it's better," I am told) Oh, far beyond the Northern sea A new life can unfold And I'm planning that it will How I'm planning that it will Where my dreamin', and my hopin', and my schemin' And my prayin', and my wishin' to be happy Will come true enough and I want to be a millionaire Millionaire in America Strike it rich and spend the fortune I amass I want to be a constable Constable in America In America you rise above your class Oh, there's the place your industry and talent can be sold And I'm certain that it will, there I'm certain that it will Ich will ein gutes leben haben Una bella vita negli Stati Uniti Where my dreamin', and my hopin', and my schemin' And my prayin', and my wishin' to be happy Will come true enough and I want to rise above myself (Oh, I will be grand) America, the streets are paved with gold (America, the streets are-) (America, the streets are paved with gold) I want to be a lady's maid (Millionaire, engineer) in America Better place for me and you Better land to start anew Better land for the baby That I hold