America
1957 Broadway lyrics
ROSALIA
Puerto Rico,
You lovely island . . .
Island of tropical breezes.
Always the pineapples growing,
Always the coffee blossoms blowing . . .
ANITA
Puerto Rico . . .
You ugly island . . .
Island of tropic diseases.
Always the hurricanes blowing,
Always the population growing . . .
And the money owing,
And the babies crying,
And the bullets flying.
I like the island Manhattan.
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!
OTHERS
I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev'rything free in America
For a small fee in America!
ROSALIA
I like the city of San Juan.
ANITA
I know a boat you can get on.
ROSALIA
Hundreds of flowers in full bloom.
ANITA
Hundreds of people in each room!
ALL
Automobile in America,
Chromium steel in America,
Wire-spoke wheel in America,
Very big deal in America!
ROSALIA
I'll drive a Buick through San Juan.
ANITA
If there's a road you can drive on.
ROSALIA
I'll give my cousins a free ride.
ANITA
How you get all of them inside?
ALL
Immigrant goes to America,
Many hellos in America;
Nobody knows in America
Puerto Rico's in America!
ROSALIA
I'll bring a T.V. to San Juan.
ANITA
If there a current to turn on!
ROSALIA
I'll give them new washing machine.
ANITA
What have they got there to keep clean?
ALL
I like the shores of America!
Comfort is yours in America!
Knobs on the doors in America,
Wall-to-wall floors in America!
ROSALIA
When I will go back to San Juan.
ANITA
When you will shut up and get gone?
ROSALIA
Everyone there will give big cheer!
ANITA
Everyone there will have moved here!
1961 film lyrics
ANITA
Puerto Rico,
My heart's devotion—
Let it sink back in the ocean.
Always the hurricanes blowing,
Always the population growing,
And the money owing,
And the sunlight streaming,
And the natives steaming.
I like the island Manhattan—
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!
GIRLS (chorus)
I like to be in America,
O.K. by me in America,
Everything free in America—
BERNARDO
For a small fee in America.
ANITA
Buying on credit is so nice.
BERNARDO
One look at us and they charge twice.
ROSALIA
I'll have my own washing machine.
JUANO
What will you have, though, to keep clean?
ANITA
Skyscrapers bloom in America.
ANOTHER GIRL
Cadillacs zoom in America.
ANOTHER GIRL
Industry boom in America.
BOYS
Twelve in a room in America.
ANITA
Lots of new housing with more space.
BERNARDO
Lots of doors slamming in our face.
ANITA
I'll get a terrace apartment.
BERNARDO
Better get rid of your accent.
ANITA AND THREE GIRLS
Life can be bright in America.
ALL BOYS
If you can fight in America.
ALL GIRLS
Life is all right in America.
ALL BOYS
If you're all-white in America.
(an interlude of WHISTLING and DANCING)
ANITA AND CONSUELO
Here you are free and you have pride.
BERNARDO
Long as you stay on your own side.
ANITA
Free to be anything you choose.
ALL BOYS
Free to wait tables and shine shoes.
BERNARDO
Everywhere grime in America,
Organized crime in America,
Terrible time in America.
ANITA
You forget I'm in America.
(An interlude of MORE DANCING)
BERNARDO
I think I go back to San Juan
ANITA
I know a boat you can get on.
BERNARDO
Everyone there will give big cheer!
ANITA
Everyone there will have moved here.
Music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
© 1956, 1957 Amberson Holdings LLC and Stephen Sondheim. Copyright renewed.
Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Company LLC, Publisher.