America Lyrics - West Side Story Soundtrack

[Original Musical Lyrics 1957]

ROSALIA
Puerto Rico,
You lovely island . . .
Island of tropical breezes.
Always the pineapples growing,
Always the coffee blossoms blowing . . .

ANITA
Puerto Rico . . .
You ugly island . . .
Island of tropic diseases.
Always the hurricanes blowing,
Always the population growing . . .
And the money owing,
And the babies crying,
And the bullets flying.
I like the island Manhattan.
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!

OTHERS
I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev'rything free in America
For a small fee in America!

ROSALIA
I like the city of San Juan.

ANITA
I know a boat you can get on.

ROSALIA
Hundreds of flowers in full bloom.

ANITA
Hundreds of people in each room!

ALL
Automobile in America,
Chromium steel in America,
Wire-spoke wheel in America,
Very big deal in America!

ROSALIA
I'll drive a Buick through San Juan.

ANITA
If there's a road you can drive on.

ROSALIA
I'll give my cousins a free ride.

ANITA
How you get all of them inside?

ALL
Immigrant goes to America,
Many hellos in America;
Nobody knows in America
Puerto Rico's in America!

ROSALIA
I'll bring a T.V. to San Juan.

ANITA
If there a current to turn on!

ROSALIA
I'll give them new washing machine.

ANITA
What have they got there to keep clean?

ALL
I like the shores of America!
Comfort is yours in America!
Knobs on the doors in America,
Wall-to-wall floors in America!

ROSALIA
When I will go back to San Juan.

ANITA
When you will shut up and get gone?

ROSALIA
Everyone there will give big cheer!

ANITA
Everyone there will have moved here!

[Lyrics Motion Picture 2021]

You lovely Island
Island of tropical breezes
Always the pineapples growing
Always the coffee blossoms blowing
And the money owing
And the baby's crying
And the people trying
I like the Island Manhattan (I know you like it)
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!

I like to be in America
Okay by me in America
Everything free in America
For a small fee in America

Buying on credit is so nice
One look at us and they charge twice
I have my own washing machine
What do you have don't you keep clean?

Skyscrapers bloom in America
Cadillacs zoom in America
Industry boom in America
12 in a room in America

Lots of new housing with more space
(Lots of doors slamming in our face)
I'll get a terrace apartment
Better you get rid of your accent

Life can be bright in America
If you can fight in America
Life is all right in America
If you're all white in America

America
La, la, la, la, la, la, America
America
Here you are free and you have pride
Long as you stay on your own side
Free to do anything you choose
Free to wait tables and shine shoes
Everywhere grime in America
Organized crime in America

Terrible time in America
You forget I'm in America

I think I'll go back to San Juan
I know a boat you can get on (bye Bye!)
Everyone there will give big cheer! (Hey)
Everyone there will have moved here

Ouw, ouw, ouw!
Ouw, owu, owu!
Ouw, owu, owu!
Hey (hey)
Hey (hey)
Hey
I
Hey—

[Thanks to 197628 for correcting these lyrics]