Open your eyes, Bella
Just take a breath
Please don't tell me that again
Don't tell me how it all belongs to me
"Just take a breath, Bella"
Not outdoors, Papa
Every time I take a breath I gag
"Open your eyes, Bella"
No, open yours, Papa!
Mine are open wide
And let me tell you what I see
Rags
Rags
This land of "freedom"
We had to run to
Where now we're free
Just like everyone to wear rags
It's all day seeing them
All day smelling them
All day list'ning to peddlers selling them
Rags
Rags
I live in rags
And so I'm right in style
All the while
Sewing, sewing, see us sewing
Hags
We turn to hags
It happens bit by bit
Picture it, Papa
There I sit
Sewing buttons on rags
Oh Papa, was it so necessary
To cram us onto that stinkin' ferry
And drag us here
To become American rags?
Bella
Remember what we left
Papa
I know you had to leave
I wanted to be free
I know how much you wanted to be free (For you and)
Just don't say again (For Herschel)
How you did it all (It wasn't)
For me
When all I got is rags
And it's rags to wear
And it's rags to buy
And it's rags to wash and hang out to dry
Like old flags
It's rags on heads
And it's rags on feet
It's the latest look on Delancey Street
It's all rags
Dreams
You gave me dreams
Of such a golden place (Soon all your dreams)
Silk and lace (They will come true)
Milk and honey
Oh, that's funny (Soon)
Lies (Soon you're gonna see)
That's all they seem (Just wait and see)
And now the dreams have flown (Time)
(Things take time)
Use your eyes, Papa (Give it time)
No more lies
Papa, leave me alone!
♪
Here's where the beauty is
Where the party is
See that handsome gent
Look how smart he is
Dancing by in his fancy clothes
And he sneers at me down his perfect nose
And his hair is clean and his skin is clear
And he wonders "what is she doing here?"
And he turns his back and the rest do too
And I want to scream "I'm the same as you!"
But it isn't true, I'm just
One more Jew
In her rags