America
Angelina Reaux, Louise Edeiken, Tatiana Troyanos, Stella Zambalis, Leonard Bernstein
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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 I like to be in America O.K. by me in America Everything free in America For a small fee in America Buying on credit is so nice One look at us and they charge twice I'll have my own washing machine What will you have, though, to keep clean? Skyscrapers bloom in America Cadillacs zoom in America Industry boom in America Twelve in a room in America Lots of new housing with more space Lots of doors slamming in our face I'll get a terrace apartment Better get rid of your accent Life can be bright in America If you can fight in America Life is all right in America If you're all-white in America. Here you are free and you have pride Long as you stay on your own side Free to be anything you choose Free to wait tables and shine shoes Everywhere grime in America Organized crime in America Terrible time in America You forget I'm in America I think I go back to San Juan I know a boat you can get on Everyone there will give big cheer Everyone there will have moved here
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Written by: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Musical Origin"America" is a song from the musical "West Side Story," which premiered on Broadway in 1957. Leonard Bernstein composed the music, and the lyrics were written by Stephen Sondheim.
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Character RepresentationIn the musical, Latina character Anita, played by Chita Rivera in the original Broadway production, primarily performs "America."
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Cultural IdentityThe song serves as a commentary on the immigrant experience in America. It articulates the contrasts between the promise and glamour perceived in the American Dream versus the harsh realities facing new immigrants.
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Movie Adaptation"America" was featured in the 1961 film adaptation of "West Side Story" and was once again highlighted in the 2020 remake directed by Steven Spielberg.
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Award-Winning SongThe movie version of "America" won the Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture. In the film, the song was performed by Rita Moreno who went on to win an Oscar for her portrayal of Anita.
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Choreographic AchievementsThe song and its accompanying dance sequence, choreographed by Jerome Robbins, are considered iconic in the canon of musical theatre.
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Lyric ChangesIn the original Broadway production, the song was a duet between Anita and Bernardo. However, for the 1961 film adaptation, Stephen Sondheim revised the lyrics, transforming it into a playful argument between female Puerto Rican immigrants, who defend America, and their male counterparts, expressing disillusionment with American life.
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Musical ProwessThe song features shifting tempos between 6/8 and 2/4 time, showcasing Leonard Bernstein's compositional virtuosity.
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Cross-Genre Influence"America" has been covered by numerous artists across different genres, with performances ranging from symphony orchestras to punk rock bands.
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Cultural ImpactEven decades after its initial release, the song remains culturally significant and is often used in discussions on immigration, reflecting the continuing debates about the American Dream.
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Citation
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"America Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 7 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6063173/Leonard+Bernstein/America>.
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