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 & 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 We're in America [TATEH] I may be just a maker of art But here you could start with less And make a success (spoken) Step right up and have a silhouette made by a real artist! With ordinary paper, a pair of scissors and some glue I shall give you a thing of such beauty! A life-like portrait of someone you love. Silhouettes of your favorite celebrity.  (sung) 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 & TATEH] Success! [EMMA GOLDMAN, spoken] The angry, fetid tenements of the Lower East Side were worse than anything Tateh and his wife had suffered in Latvia. The Little Girl was often sick now. Tateh wrapped her in his prayer shawl. What rabbi would disapprove? [IMMIGRANTS] America 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 Sucker, 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] 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— (spoken) We will find it!