The song, America So Very Big, is a star-spangled patriotic tribute to America sung by the ESL (English as a Second Language) students who meet at the local park to celebrate their first day back at school. Inspired by the classic West Side Story number, America, by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, the song is a testament to the resilience and hopes of those newcomers who have long viewed the United States as a beacon of freedom which welcomes them from distant lands asking only that they work hard to contribute to their new society and help make the USA a better and stronger country as a result of their arrival.

The song begins with students expressing their gratitude for having made it to America. As they sing, a sense of community pervades the classroom. One of the students, an older gentleman, Vuong Anh, recounts his past in Vietnam, painting a vivid picture of his struggles amidst war and turmoil while his younger compatriot, Nguyen Tran, who weathered a similar journey, offers comical commentary to the old man’s tale. Though humorous, the lyrics reveal the great desperation many immigrants face before setting out on their often arduous and treacherous journey to America.

“America so very big, America so grand” captures the sweeping essence of the students’ hopes and dreams about the vast opportunities that await them and their families. America So Very Big is more than just a song celebrating America’s unchartered depths, it is a poignant reminder of the strength and resolve found among the immigrant population, the joy of new beginnings, and the hope for a brighter future.

The song’s final lines conjure up the closing lines of the Irving Berlin classic, America the Beautiful, and highlight the students’ love and respect for those principles of freedom, justice, democracy, brother & sisterhood that help define America “from sea to shining sea.” The eager scholars smile broadly as they consider that they, too, are now part of the American dream and a brighter future awaits.