Lyrics to 'America'
America
by Steven Sondheim (born 3/22/1930)
for West Side Story (1957 Broadway lyrics)
Puerto Rico
You lovely island
Island of tropical breezes
Always the pineapples growing
Always the coffee blossoms blowing
And the money owing
And the baby's crying
And the people trying
I like the island Manhattan (I know you do)
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!
I like to be in America
Okay, buy me in America
Everything free in America
For a small fee in America
Buying on credit is so nice
One look at us and they charge twice
I have my own washing machine
What do you have don't you keep clean?
Skyscrapers bloom in America
Cadillacs zoom in America
Industry boom in America
12 in a room in America
Lots of new housing with more space
(Lots of doors slamming in our face)
I'll get a terrace apartment
Better you get rid of your accent
Life can be bright in America
If you can fight in America
Life is all right in America
If you're all white in America
America
La, la, la, la, la, la, America
America
Here you are free and you have pride
Long as you stay on your own side
Free to do anything you choose
Free to wait tables and shine shoes
Everywhere grime in America
Organized crime in America
Terrible time in America
You forget I'm in America
I think I'll go back to San Juan
I know a boat you can get on (bye, bye!)
Everyone there will give big cheer! (Hey)
Everyone there will have moved here