Stature of Liberty is a song written while Mike Peters was on a song-writing trip with Steve Earle
A song about my grandfather. He went over to America in 1918 at the end of the First World War. He tried to make a living and make a life for himself, but it didn’t work out and he came back to Wales in 1921. The song is the story of his adventures out there. It’s a song I probably won’t record for a while, because it’s a song which is part of a long developing plan. Ultimately I hope to build this song into a film script and a soundtrack – Mike Peters – The Gathering 7, 1999
1995 Fort Apache recording
Running length 5:13
Written by Mike Peters
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Recorded at Fort Apache, Boston. Massachusetts, USA
Recorded by Dan McLaughlin and Joe Brigande
Produced by Mike Peters and Dan McLaughlin
Remastered in 2009 by Martin Wilding and Mike Peters
Alternative studio recordings – KCXX Acoustic. 45 R.P.M. Single
December 1995 – KCXX Radio Station recording
Running length 5:35
Written by Mike Peters
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica
Recorded at KCXX Radio Station, San Bernardino, California, USA
Remastered in 2010 by Martin Wilding
2004 – 45 R.P.M. Single
Running length 5:52
Musicians & Credits
Mike Peters – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
James Stevenson – Guitar
Steve Grantley – Drums
Craig Adams – Bass Guitar
Bob Hewitt – Slide Guitar
Alan Davies – Pipes, Accordion
Jules Jones – Backing Vocal
Recorded at Mountain & Sea Studios, Dyserth, Wales
Mixed and Engineered by Rob Storm
Produced by Mike Peters
Album appearances and discography of studio recordings
All the following are Worldwide releases except where stated
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2009 : Mike Peters – Feel Free Deluxe Edition
Released on CD as a 3 disc box set by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C048
1995 recording remastered in 2009 
2010 : Mike Peters – Rise [Deluxe Edition]
Released on CD as a 3 disc box set by Twenty First Century Recording Company, catalogue number 21C053
December 1995 KCXX radio station recording remastered in 2010
Single appearance and discography
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2004 : CD Single – The Poppy Fields – 45 R.P.M.
Track listing : 45 R.P.M. / Spirit of 76 / Statue of Liberty
Released by Snapper Music, catalogue number SMASCD055
2004 recording
Officially released live recordings – Audio
All are Worldwide Releases on Twenty First Century Recording Company
(Except where stated)
28th August 2004. Recorded at William Aston Hall, NEWI, Wrexham, Wales
Running length 7:51
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released on CD in 2003 on Alarmstock 2 Volume 2 – Is A Working Man Born To Live And Then Die
13th August 2005. Recorded at Electric Lady Studio A, New York, USA
Running Length 6:50
Performed by Mike Peters acoustic
Released on CD in 2005 on Alarmstock III Volume 2 – New York Set 1 Broken Glass Everywhere
Lyrics – Feel Free Deluxe
I laid down my guns, it was 1918
And I worked my way across the sea
To a place where I’ve heard a man could be free
I’ve heard about the Statue of Liberty
Oh there is a Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is a Statue of Liberty
I landed in the north
And I hitched across the land
I couldn’t find a job
I spent all that I had
I was just about to give up hope and turn back
When I remembered the Statue of Liberty
I was up in the French speaking part of Canada
Looking for work at an electrical plant
There was thousands of men there
Who’s luck had run bad
A foreman was shouting
No English, no black
So how about a Welshman, I shouted back
He said come here boyo
There’s work for you lads
Oh there is a Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
I finally crossed the border Into Chicago
I got a job working for Bell Telephone Co
And the first thing I did was save up my fare home
As I remembered the Statue Of Liberty
Oh the fortune I’d dreamt of, I never did see
And after three years I decided to leave
And as I set sail from New York City
Oh I saw the Stature of Liberty
When I got home from my traveling
The best sight I saw was the Menai bridge
I’ve got no regrets about the life I have lived
‘Cause I saw the Statue of Liberty
Yes I saw the Statue of Liberty
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Lyrics – Rise Deluxe
I laid down my guns, it was 1918
And I walked out and went across the seas
To a place where I’ve heard a man could be free
I’ve heard about the Statue of Liberty
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
I landed in the north
And I hitched across the land
I couldn’t find a job
I spent all that I had
I was just about to give up hope and turn back
When I thought about the Statue of Liberty
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
I was up in the French speaking part of Canada
Looking for work at an electrical plant
There was thousands of men there
Who’s luck had run bad
A foreman was shouting
No English or blacks
So how about a Welshman, I shouted back
He said come here boyo
There’s work for you lad
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
I finally crossed the border Into Chicago
I got a job working for Bell Telephone Co
And the first thing I did was save up my fare home
When I thought about the Statue Of Liberty
Oh the fortune I’d dreamt of, I never did see
And after three years I decided to leave
And as I set sail from New York City
I saw the Stature of Liberty
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
When I got home from my traveling
The best sight I saw was the Menai bridge
I’ve got no regrets about the life I have lived
‘Cause I saw the Statue of Liberty
Yes I saw the Statue of Liberty
Lyrics – 45 R.P.M. Single
I laid down my guns, it was 1918
And I walked my way across the sea
To a place where I’ve heard a man could be free
I’ve heard about the Statue of Liberty
I landed in the north
And I hitched across the land
I couldn’t find a job
I spent all that I had
I was just about to give up hope and turn back
When I thought about the Statue of Liberty
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
I was up in the French speaking part of Canada
Looking for work at an electrical plant
There was thousands of men there
Who’s luck had run bad
A foreman was shouting
No English or blacks
So how about a Welshman, I shouted back
He said come here boyo
There’s work for you lad
Oh there is a Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is a Statue of Liberty
I finally crossed the border Into Chicago
I got a job working for Bell Telephone Co
And the first thing I did was save up my fare home
As I remembered the the Statue Of Liberty
Oh the fortune I’d dreamt of, I never did see
And after three years I decided to leave
And as I set sail from New York City
I saw the Stature of Liberty
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
When I got home from my traveling
The best sight I saw was the Menai bridge
I’ve got no regrets about the life I have lived
‘Cause I saw the Statue of Liberty
Yes I saw the Statue of Liberty
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Gazing out over seven seas
A torchlight of truth and equality
Oh there is the Statue of Liberty
Audio & Visual Sources – 2 x Video 1 x Audio
Click on image for video of Live audience recording from Mike Peters acoustic performance Telfords Warehouse, Chester, England, 20th November 2012
Click on image for video of Live audience recording from Mike Peters acoustic performance The Cluny, Newcastle, England, 28th November 2012
Audio Link – Mike Peters 1995 Fort Apache recording remastered for release on Feel Free Deluxe 2009
(Page updated 09/02/2022)