On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada / Don’t Cry For Me Argentina

Lyrics

[ANNOUNCER] People of Argentina! Your newly elected President—Juan Perón! [CROWD] Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! [PERÓN] Argentinos! Argentinos! We are all leaders now! Fighting against our common enemies Poverty Social injustice Foreign domination of our industries Reaching for our common goals Our independence Our dignity Our pride Let the world know that our great nation is awakening And that its heart Beats in the humble bodies Of Juan Perón—and His wife, the first lady of Argentina, Eva Duarte de Perón! [CROWD] Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! [CHE, in crowd] As a mere observer of this tasteless phenomenon One has to admire the stage management [CROWD] Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! [HEAVIES move in on CHE] [CHE] There again, perhaps I'm more than a mere observer Listen to my enthusiasm, gentlemen [CROWD] Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! [CHE & CROWD] Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! [CROWD] Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! [EVA, appearing on the balcony] It won't be easy, you'll think it's strange When I try to explain how I feel That I still need your love after all that I've done You won't believe me All you will see is a girl you once knew Although she's dressed up to the nines At sixes and sevens with you I had to let it happen, I had to change Couldn't stay all my life down at heel Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun So I chose freedom Running around trying everything new But nothing impressed me at all I never expected it to Don't cry for me Argentina The truth is I never left you All through my wild days My mad existence I kept my promise Don't keep your distance And as for fortune, and as for fame I never invited them in Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired They are illusions They're not the solutions they promised to be The answer was here all the time I love you and hope you love me Don't cry for me Argentina— [EVA breaks down; the CROWD takes up her tune.] Don't cry for me Argentina The truth is I never left you All through my wild days My mad existence I kept my promise Don't keep your distance Have I said too much? There's nothing more I can think of to say to you But all you have to do Is look at me to know That every word is true [Applause. EVA goes inside from the balcony.] Just listen to that! The voice of Argentina! We are adored! We are loved! [OFFICER] Statesmanship is more than entertaining peasants [EVA] We shall see, little man [CROWD] Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! [EVA, back on the balcony] I am only a simple woman who lives to serve Perón In his noble crusade to rescue his people! I was once as you are now! I have taken these riches from the oligarchs Only for you—for all of you! One day you will inherit these treasures Descamisados! When they fire those cannons When the crowds sing of glory It is not just for Perón, but for all of us! All of us! [CROWD] Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista! [ARISTOCRATS] Things have reached a pretty pass When someone pretty lower-class Can be respected and admired— [EVA] But your despicable class is dead Look who they are calling for now!