Welcome to Kanagawa

Lyrics

[MADAM, spoken] Hurry up, girls, for heaven's sakes! The Americans will have already landed! (sung) I own a small commercial venture With a modest clientele In Kanagawa [GIRLS] I think I see one over there behind the trees! [MADAM, spoken] Sh! (sung) It's been my family's for centuries And doing very well — For Kanagawa [GIRLS] I hear they're covered all with hair, like some disease [MADAM, spoken] Sh! [GIRLS] Except their knees [MADAM, spoken] Sh! (sung) The arrival of these giants Out of the blue Bringing panic to my clients Alters my view With so many of them fleeing Conferring, decreeing I find myself agreeing With the ancient haiku: [RECITER] The nest-building bird Seeking the tree without twigs Looks for new forests [MADAM, spoken] Exactly.  (sung) Welcome to Kanagawa [GIRLS] Welcome to Kanagawa! [MADAM, spoken] No! (sung) Welcome to Kanagawa [GIRLS, spoken] Oh (sung) Welcome to Kanagawa [MADAM, spoken] So (sung) With all my flowers disappearing In alarm I've been reduced to commandeering From the farm But with appropriate veneering Even green wood has its charm [GIRLS] Welcome to Kanagawa Welcome to Kanagawa Welcome to Kanagawa (spoken) Yo-ho! [MADAM & GIRLS, spoken] Yo-ho! [MADAM hands out pornographic fans to the GIRLS and points to each in turn.] [MADAM] That you'll have to bend for—— Can you see why? [FIRST GIRL] Yo-ho! [MADAM] That you need a friend for— Still, you might try [SECOND GIRL] Yo-ho! [MADAM] That you do through the kimono— Not very much [THIRD GIRL] Yo-ho! [MADAM] That you use glue, then you— No, no, no, no Those you don't touch! [MADAM & GIRLS] Welcome to Kanagawa Music and food for twenty yen— Music and food— [MADAM] And maybe then— [MADAM & GIRLS] Welcome! Welcome to Kanagawa! Music and food and company! Music and food— [MADAM] And for a fee— [MADAM & GIRLS] Welcome! [MADAM] When a country is in trouble Choices are few And apart from charging double What can you do? With my clients off defending And strangers descending I find myself depending On the ancient haiku: [RECITER] The bird from the sea Not knowing pine from bamboo Roosts on anything [MADAM, spoken] Exactly.  [GIRLS] Welcome to Kanagawa! [MADAM, spoken] Glow! [GIRLS] Welcome to Kanagawa! [MADAM, spoken] Low! [GIRLS] Welcome to Kanagawa! [MADAM, spoken] Grow! [GIRLS] Welcome to Kanagawa! [MADAM, spoken] Go! Yo-ho! … Yo-ho!