Finaletto Act I (1930)

Lyrics

[JIM] Stop! What is this mischief you're doing? Stop! Reflect, consider and pause Can't you see this trouble you're brewing Won't be in a worthy cause? [FLETCHER & SLOANE] Be careful of a trick He's just a Bolshevik [ENSEMBLE] We will fight for all we hold dear, sir! [JIM] But I say this war is a fake [FLETCHER] Why the hell must you interfere, sir? [ENSEMBLE] Fletcher's reputation is at stake [JIM] Fellow countrymen, lend me your ears for a minute [MEN] If you have anything important to say, better begin it [JIM] Folks, I was born Down on a farm There 'midst the corn Far from all harm I learned about Cows and their ilk So my friends, I know milk [ENSEMBLE] He knows milk [JIM] Some men are butchers Some men are bakers Some specialize as Candlestick makers Some, cloaks and suits Some men know silk I, my friends, I know milk [ENSEMBLE] He knows milk You may know milk, but tell us more What the devil has that got to do with war? What the devil has that got to do with war? [JIM] I'd go to war For chocolate I could trust But never for A cause so unjust For I'm afraid Listen to me This chocolate's made Fletcher's Chocolate's made Of milk—Grade B [ENSEMBLE] Not A? [JIM] No, B [ENSEMBLE] Not A? [JIM] No, B Oh, my friends, I know milk! [ENSEMBLE] He still knows milk [FLETCHER, SLOANE & HOLMES] No, no! Nay, nay! We're here to say It is Grade A We always use the best ingredients [JIM] Here today You hear me say It's not Grade A You're using Grade B for expedience [ENSEMBLE] He says they do not use the best ingredients But that they're using Grade B for expedience And Fletcher told us that when he began it, he Was making chocolate to help humanity He says they do not use the best ingredients But that they're using Grade B for expedience And Fletcher told us that when he began it, he Was making chocolate to help humanity Maybe he is telling us the truth! Maybe he is telling us the truth! [JOAN] Jim, how could you do such a thing? Oh, Jim, unworthy of you, such a thing Just look at my father and see He'd never use Grade B [JIM & JOAN] Joan, I had to do such a thing (Jim, how could you do such a thing?) Oh, Joan (Oh, Jim) The moment I knew such a thing (Unworthy of you, such a thing) My conscience and I both agree (Just look at my father and see) The milk is still Grade B (He'd never use Grade B) [FLETCHER] To me the whole thing simply is ridiculous My honor has been struck an awful blow The populace know I am too meticulous I'd never stoop to do a thing so low [ENSEMBLE] He'd never stoop to do a thing so low He'd never stoop to do a thing so low And you're a dirty so-and-so-and-so [FLETCHER] A very dirty so-and-so-and-so [ENSEMBLE] While he is a typical self-made American [JIM] He is a true, profiteering American [FLETCHER] I've made a pure product ever since I began [JIM] He'll get us all into war if he works his plan [WOMEN] In most every way, we feel He is basically sound With his shoulder to the wheel And his two feet on the ground [ENSEMBLE] He is a typical, typical, typical self-made American [JOAN] Alas, alackaday, unlucky me My hero and my father can't agree Oh, listen all, I make it known That I'm engaged to Mr. Sloane [ENSEMBLE] Hooray for you and Sloane and liberty! Yes, yes, we say He'll have to pay He's in the way With propaganda he's been fillin' us He's a fake And no mistake His neck we'll break Whoever heard of one so villainous? He says that we use Grade B for expedience We'll teach him soon the meaning of obedience We're all crusading for a cause that's glorious And who the hell is he to be censorious? [FLETCHER, spoken] Take him away and lock him up [JIM, spoken] Wait a minute! You can't do that to me! I'm a free born American citizen And I have a right to get into this war, too [FLETCHER, spoken] You mean you're going? [JIM, spoken] You bet I'm going And I hope to God I never come back I wanna get out of a world Where people like you make the wheels go round I wanna get away from the girl who swore she'd love me one minute And then left me the next because I didn't fall for your cry of patriotism I wanna get away from the whole rotten pool of you My country, right or wrong Come on, war