Illegal Alien Lyrics
With my wallet and my passport, a new pair of shoes
The sun is shining so I head for the park,
With a bottle of Tequila, and a new pack of cigarettes
Who thought that her aunt knew a man who could help
At his apartment I knocked on the door,
He wouldn't come out until he got paid.
Now don't tell anybody what I wanna do
If they find out you know that they'll never let me through.
It's no fun being an illegal alien
A pink one, a red one, the colours you choose,
Up to the counter to see what they think
They said 'It doesn't count man, it ain't written in ink'.
Don't trust anybody least not around here, cause
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
It's not fun being an illegal alien,
An illegal alien, O.K.
Wouldn't hurt anybody, sure fits in with my plan
Over the border, there lies the promised land
Where everything comes easy, you just hold out your hand
If they find out you know that they'll never let me through.
It's no fun being an illegal alien,
It's no fun being an illegal alien,
It's no fun being an illegal alien.

Judging by Phil's voice, it sounds like a Jamaican trying to get into a country through illegal means, hence illegal alien.
Ummm, more like a Mexican. Watch the video of this song =o)
Ummm, more like a Mexican. Watch the video of this song =o)

...but then upon inspection of the video, he's a mexican trying to get a free pass into America "where everything comes easy"

Whoa, I saw a Genesis discography and I thought "Isn't that a Sting song"? I was getting it confused with Englishman in New York. I'm not sure that I've ever heard this song.

probably the worst genesis song ever
@sadmachine Daniel Sexbang disagrees
@sadmachine Daniel Sexbang disagrees
@sadmachine Musically it's a better pop song than many of their other pop hits. The lyrics and their delivery, though...ugh.
@sadmachine Musically it's a better pop song than many of their other pop hits. The lyrics and their delivery, though...ugh.

Ya know, as stupid and racist as this song was in the eighties, ya gotta hand it to genesis for writing a semi political song thirty years ago that is more relevant than ever. You would think society would have figured out a solution to the "illegal alien" question.

I've just bought the videos and you are right, however returning to the song itself, It's very clear the original meaning it's a jamaican who's an "illegal alien" ie has already landed on the easy life country but is trying hard to get legality
Jamaica is not know for its tequila
Jamaica is not know for its tequila