14  

AND  THE  SHIP,  THE  BLACK  FREIGHTER  

DISAPPEARS  OUT  TO  SEA  
AND  ON  IT  IS  ME.  
 
I  Wait  for  a  Ship  (Marie  Galante)  
 
STEPH  P   I  WAIT  FOR  A  SHIP  THAT’S  SAILING  TO  ME,  
THAT’S  COMING  TO  ME  ACROSS  ITS  LONELY  SEA;  
A  SEA  FILLED  WITH  TEARS  THAT  FLOW  FROM  MY  EYES.  
ITS  SAILS  BILLOW  OUT  WITH  MY  SIGHS.  
AND  IF  THE  WAVES  SWEEP  HIGH  TO  SINK  IT,  
I  WOULDN’T  FALTER,  NOT  A  BIT.  
I’D  CARRY  IT  HOME  LIKE  A  BABY,  
BACK  TO  BORDEAUX,  SAFE  IN  MY  ARMS.  
TWO  BUCKS,  MON  CHOU,  BUT  NOT  FROM  YOU,  
IF  YOU’RE  ON  DUTY  ABOARD  MY  BEAUTY!  
I  KISS  YOUR  FACE,  ASK  HEAVEN’S  GRACE  FOR  SAFE  SAIL  
THROUGH  EVERY  GALE.  
ONE  LAST  CARESS,  A  FIERCE  EMBRACE;  
MY  LOVE’S  A  CHARM  TO  KEEP  MY  SHIP  FROM  HARM,  
MY  DARLING  SHIP,  MY  VERY  OWN.  
 
My  Ship  (Lady  in  the  Dark)  
 
CAT     MY  SHIP  HAS  SAILS  THAT  ARE  MADE  OF  SILK  
THE  DECKS  ARE  TRIMMED  WITH  GOLD  
AND  OF  JAM  AND  SPICE  
THERE'S  A  PARADISE  IN  THE  HOLD  
MY  SHIP'S  AGLOW  WITH  A  MILLION  PEARLS  
AND  RUBIES  FILL  EACH  BIN  
THE  SUN  SITS  HIGH  IN  A  SAPPHIRE  SKY  
WHEN  MY  SHIP  COMES  IN  
I  CAN  WAIT  THE  YEARS  TILL  IT  APPEARS  
ONE  FINE  DAY  ONE  SPRING  
BUT  THE  PEARLS  AND  SUCH  
THEY  DON'T  MEAN  MUCH  
IF  THERE'S  MISSING  JUST  ONE  THING  
I  DO  NOT  CARE  IF  THAT  DAY  ARRIVES  
THAT  DREAM  NEED  NEVER  BE  
IF  THE  SHIP  I  SING  
DOESN'T  ALSO  BRING  
MY  OWN  TRUE  LOVE  TO  ME  
 
GREG   There  is  a  tiny  flower,  bright,  bright  blue.  It  is  called  a  Spiderwort.  Sometimes  it  is  
called  a  Wandering  Jew.  I  know  how  it  feels.      
 
   15  

In   March   1933,   Lenya   and   I   fled   Nazi   Germany.   I   was   officially   denounced   for   my  
populist   views   and   became   a   target   of   the   Nazi   authorities,   who   criticized   and  
interfered  with  performances  of  my  works.  It  was  unbearable.  
 
In  1935,  Lenya  and  I  sailed  for  America.  
 
Section  Three:  How  Can  You  Tell  an  American?  
 
Hosannah  Rockefeller  (Happy  End)  
 
MEN     PRAISE  TO  THE  FORDS  AND  ROCKEFELLERS  
ALL     HOSANNAH,  HOSANNAH  
MEN     THE  BUYERS  AND  THE  SELLERS  
ALL     HOSANNAH,  HOSANNAH  
MEN     ALL  POWER  TO  THE  GREAT  –    
ALL     HOSANNAH  
MEN     GIVE  THEM  THE  CITY  AND  THE  STATE  –    
ALL     HOSANNAH  
MEN     BLESS  THEM  WITH  BODYGUARDS  AND  TELLERS  
ALL     HOSANNAH  
HOSANNAH,  HOSANNAH,  HOSANNAH  
HOSANNAH,  HOSANNAH  
COLLIN     MAY  GOD  BLESS  ROCKERFELLER  
BLAINE     MAY  GOD  BLESS  HENRY  FORD  
JOSH     MAY  GOD  BLESS  J.  P.  MORGAN,  TOO,  
AND  HIS  GREAT  TREASURE  HOARD.  
 
EMILY     MAY  GOD  BLESS  SEX  APPEAL  
WHEN  WEALTHY  MEN  GET  BORED  
ALL     GOD  KEEP  THEIR  FAITH  AND  PROFITS  HIGH  
AND  THOUGH  THE  POOR  MAY  STARVE  AND  DIE  
MAKE  SURE  NO  COURT  ON  EARTH  WILL  TRY  THE  RICH…  
 
The  One  Indispensable  Man  (Knickerbocker  Holiday)  
 
MATT     IN  EV’RY  GOVERNMENT  WHATEVER  ITS  INTENT,  
THERE’S  ONE  OBSCURE  OFFICIAL  
WITH  A  MANNER  INNOCENT.  
HIS  JOB  INVISIBLE  
IS  PURCHASING  GOOD  WILL  
WITH  WADS  OF  PUBLIC  MONEY  
TAKEN  FROM  THE  PUBLIC  TILL.  
IT’S  THE  ONE  INDISPENSIBLE  MAN  
THE  ONE  INDISPENSIBLE  MAN.  
 
THERE’S  LITTLE  SAID  ABOUT  HIM  
BUT  YOU  CANNOT  DO  WITHOUT  HIM,  
FOR  OF  GOVERNMENTAL  MEASURES