Welcome to Kanagawa Lyrics - Pacific Overtures Soundtrack

MADAM
I own a small commercial venture
With a modest clientele
In Kanagawa.

GIRLS
I think I see one over there behind the trees!

MADAM
Sh!
(to the audience)
It's been my family's for centur-
Ies and doing very well —
For Kanagawa.

GIRLS
I hear they're covered all with hair, like some disease.

MADAM
Sh!

FOURTH GIRL
Except their knees.

MADAM
Sh!
(to audience)
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
Exactly.
(As a "forest" forms on the stage, she and the girls search for Americans.)
Welcome to Kanagawa.

GIRLS
Welcome to Kanagawa!

MADAM
No …
Welcome to Kanagawa.

GIRLS
Oh …
Welcome to Kanagawa.

MADAM
So …
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
(searching)
Yo-ho!
Yo-ho!

MADAM
(beckoning them)
Yo-ho!
(She hands out pornographic fans to the girls and points to each in turn.)
That you'll have to bend for —
Can yo see why?

FIRST GIRL
Yo-ho!

MADAM
That you'll 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!

ALL
Welcome to Kanagawa,
Music and food for twenty yen —
Music and food —

MADAM
And maybe then —

ALL
Welcome!

Welcome to Kanagawa!
Music and food and company!
Music and food —

MADAM
— And for a fee —

ALL
Welcome!

MADAM
(to the audience)
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
Exactly.

GIRLS
Welcome to Kanagawa!

MADAM
Glow!

GIRLS
Welcome to Kanagawa!

MADAM
Low!

GIRLS
Welcome to Kanagawa!

MADAM
Grow!

GIRLS
Welcome to Kanagawa!

MADAM
Go!

(as they all move into the "forest")
GIRLS
Yo-ho!
Yo-ho!

MADAM
Yo-ho! …
Yo-ho!