America

(album: West Side Story - 1961)

[Anita:]
Puerto Rico
You lovely island
Island of tropical breezes
Always the pineapples growing
Always the coffee blossoms blowing
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!

[Girls:]
I like to be in America
Okay 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 have my own washing machine

[Indio:]
What will you have though to keep clean?

[Girls:]
Skyscrapers bloom in America
Cadillacs zoom in America
Industry boom in America

[Boys:]
Twelve in a room in America

[Anita:]
Lots of new housing with more space

[All:]
Lots of doors slamming in our face

[Anita:]
I'll get a terrace apartment

[Bernardo:]
Better get rid of your accent

[Girls:]
Life can be bright in America

[Boys:]
If You Can Fight In America

[Girls:]
Life is all right in America

[Boys:]
If you're all white in America

[Boys:]
La la la la la la, America
America
La la la la la la, America

[Anita:]
America

[Girls:]
Here you are free and you have pride

[Boys:]
Long as you stay on your own side

[Girls:]
Free to do anything you choose

[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

[Bernardo:]
I think I'll go back to San Juan

[Anita:]
I know a boat you can get on (Bye Bye!)

[Bernardo:]
Everyone there will give big cheer!

[Anita:]
Everyone there will have moved here