"america" in "west side story" (and the lyrics still relevant!!)

[niyad]

"America (movie)" Lyrics

West Side Story
ANITA (spoken)
Oh no! That is not true!

(sung)
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

CONSUELO (spoken)
I know you do!

ANITA (sung)
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!

GIRLS
I like to be in America
OK 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

CHINO
What will you have, though, to keep clean?

ANITA
Skyscrapers bloom in America

ROSALIA
Cadillacs zoom in America

TERESITA
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
Life can be bright in America

BOYS
If you can fight in America

GIRLS
Life is alright in America

BOYS
If you're all white in America

ANITA and CONSUELO
Here you are free and you have pride

BOYS
Long as you stay on your own side

ANITA and CONSUELO
Free to be anything you choose

BOYS
Free to wait tables and shine shoes

BERNARDO
Everywhere grime in America
Organised crime in America
Terrible time in America

ANITA
You forget I'm in America!

BERNARDO
I think I 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!

[nycbos]

1. Re: Everyone there will have moved here!

Well there more Puerto Ricicans live on the mainland the there are in Puerto Rico to my understanding.

[lunamagica]

2. I always found interesting that the women were for America, the men against it

I think the washing machine (and dishwasher, vacuum cleaner, etc.) was a good part of it, but there was also a newfound sense (at least the possibility) of independence and freedom. As women, they had already experienced discrimination and oppression in PR, so it was nothing new to them.

OTOH, the men were used to being at the top in PR. They were experiencing what it was like to feel like second-class citizens for the first time, and the idea of "their" woman having the chance to have more freedom and independence was abhorrent to them.

Just my POV

[TheMastersNemesis]

3. The Entire Musical Is A Metaphor For Today.

[YOHABLO]

4. I've been thinking about this song from the movie all week. Perfect. How about an influx

of Puerto Ricans move into key states and vote Democratic Party! They are U.S. citizens after all and they will be able to vote. We could flip a lot of Red states this way. People of Puerto Rico we welcome you.