Lynn Ahrens - Success lyrics

TATEH: I promised you America And little one, we're there IMMIGRANTS: America TATEH: Our feet are on the solid ground And hope is in the air IMMIGRANTS: America TATEH: You'll soon be eating apple pie From off a china plate Pretty dresses, pretty dolls Just wait For shining in your Tateh's eye And just beyond this gate IMMIGRANTS and ALL: America! TATEH: Here in America Anyone at all can succeed IMMIGRANTS: America Here in America TATEH: Do what you do And the world will come to you Guaranteed IMMIGRANTS: America Here in America TATEH: I may be just a maker of art But here you can start with less And make a success TATEH (spoken): Step right up and have a silhouette made by a real artist! With ordinary paper, a pair of scissors and some glue I will give you a thing of such beauty! A life-like portrait of someone you love. Silhouettes of your favorite celebrity TATEH: Evelyn Nesbit Hey, look She's on her Vaudeville stage Harry Houdini He practically escapes From the page Only a nickel Don't walk away Someday these will impress When I'm a success IMMIGRANTS: America America TATEH: Look at the silhouettes Here in the tenements Bent over sewing Or dancing or arguing Thousands of silhouettes Thousands of stories to tell Look at them, little one Such opportunity Right on the corner of Orchard and Rivington We'll make our silhouettes Think how they'll sell We'll join the parade Of Americans all doing well IMMIGRANTS: Success Success J.P. MORGAN: I'm J.P. Morgan, my friends The wealthiest man on this earth IMMIGRANTS: Success J.P. MORGAN: You immigrants, look up to me And you'll see what money is worth IMMIGRANTS: Success J.P. MORGAN: One day your immigrant sweat Might get you the whole U.S HOUDINI: And if you're trapped And failure seems imminent Think of Houdini That fabulous immigrant Break those chains With all you possess J.P. MORGAN and IMMIGRANTS: This is America This is the land of success ALL, and TATEH: Success! EMMA GOLDMAN (spoken): The angry, fetid tenements of the Lower East Side were worse than anything Tateh and his wife suffered in Latvia. The Little Girl was often sick now. Tateh wrapped her in his prayer shawl. What rabbi would disapprove? IMMIGRANTS: America TATEH: Look at my daughter, God Why have you brought us here How can I feed her or clothe Or protect her here Where's the America We were supposed to get Was it a silhouette Hey, mister Here in America Anything you want, you can be s**er, step up And I'll cut you out your own guarantee Come see the artist Big shot, oh yes Red, white and blue Hooray and God bless I'm a success I'm a success Success Success HOUDINI: And if you're trapped And failure seems imminent Think of Houdini That fabulous immigrant Break those chains with all you possess TATEH: I promised you America And little one - We will find it