"America" lyrics

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

[WOMAN #1:]
And the money owing

[WOMAN #2:]
And the babies crying

[WOMAN #3:]
And the people trying

[ANITA:]
I like the island Manhattan

[ROSALÍA:]
I know you do!

[ANITA:]
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!

[ANITA/LUZ/ROSALÍA:]
I like to be in America

[ANITA/LUZ/ROSALÍA/ILLI/CONCHI/MONTSE:]
Okay by me in America

[ANITA & ALL WOMEN:]
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

[ROSALÍA:]
I have my own washing machine

[BERNARDO:]
What do you have though to keep clean?

[ANITA & WOMEN:]
Skyscrapers bloom in America
Cadillacs zoom in America
Industry boom in America

[THE SHARKS:]
Twelve in a room in America

[ANITA:]
Lots of new housing with more space

[COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS:]
Lots of doors slamming in our face!

[ANITA:]
I'll get a terrace apartment

[BERNARDO:]
Better get rid of your accent

[ANITA/ROSALÍA/LUZ:]
Life can be bright in America

[BERNARDO/BRAULIO/QUIQUE:]
If you can fight in America

[ANITA/ROSALÍA/LUZ:]
Life is alright in America

[BERNARDO & THE SHARKS:]
If you're all white in America

[THE SHARKS & WOMEN:]
Hey, hey, hey!
Hey, hey, hey!

[BERNARDO & QUIQUE:]
La la la la la la, America

[QUIQUE:]
America

[THE SHARKS & WOMEN:]
La la la la la la, America

[ANITA:]
America

[ANITA & WOMEN:]
Here you are free and you have pride

[BERNARDO & THE SHARKS:]
'Long as you stay on your own side

[ANITA & WOMEN:]
Free to do anything you choose

[BERNARDO & THE SHARKS:]
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

[QUIQUE:]
Hey, hey, hey!

[BERNARDO:]
I think I go back to San Juan

[ANITA:]
I know a boat you can get on!

[WOMEN:]
Bye-bye!

[BERNARDO:]
Everyone there will give big cheer!

[THE SHARKS:]
Hey!

[ANITA:]
Everyone there will have moved here

[ANITA & WOMEN:]
Ow! Ow! Ow!
Ow! Ow! Ow!
Ow! Ow! Ow!

[THE SHARKS (WOMEN):]
Hey! (Hey!)
Hey! (Hey!)

[THE SHARKS & WOMEN:]
Hey!
Hey!