what even is there to say

that hasn’t been said already

the song that you and i dance to

plays on like a broken record.

cathy

was a jacket

that never fit

but we made it.

nothing mutes features

foreigner

non belonging

immigrant.

 

the jacket made me smaller

i took up less space

i made them feel more comfortable

i lived under layers.

 

but then it got tight

as i grew sizes

my eyes opened wide

my mind became wiser

the double-edged sword

that split my insides up

i broke it with my tongue

and i burned it in a fire

take my name to claim

what’s held by colonizers

sewing back together

the wounds that they divided

i can testify for my family’s survival

8500 miles

still rooted at arrival.

 

la la la la la la

my name is my birthright

la la la la la la

my name is my birthright

so rise, rise

say your name and rise

rise, rise

say your name and rise. 

 

see, cathy is their claim

a figurative harbor

a brand in their own language

like my bloodline has no honor

but the people of the jungle

defeat your agent orange

and the people of the boats

journey strong across the waters

so i take this jacket off

and don my people’s armor

and i rock the coat of arms

of my motherland soldiers

my name is thy nguyen

i’m my ancestors’ reprise

my people span the seas

but we stay rooted at arrival.

 

la la la la la la

my name is my birthright

la la la la la la

my name is my birthright

so rise, rise

say your name and rise

rise, rise

say your name and rise.