FATHER (spoken):
It's an honor to go on an expedition with you, Admiral Perry. It's men like you who have made this country great
ADMIRAL PERRY (spoken):
It's men like you who will keep it great
MATTHEW HENSON: (spoken)
All sails set, Admiral
ADMIRAL PERRY (spoken):
Thank you, Mr. Henson. This is my First Officer, Mr. Matthew Henson
FATHER (spoken):
Good evening
MATTHEW HENSON: (spoken)
Welcome aboard
FATHER (spoken):
What's that in the distance? Such a ghostly glow!
ADMIRAL PERRY (spoken):
They're called "rag ships." Immigrants from every cesspool in Western and Eastern Europe. Most of them become very patriotic Americans. They're your future customers
MATTHEW HENSON: (spoken)
My people were also brought here on ships
ADMIRAL PERRY (spoken):
Good watch, Henson
FATHER (spoken):
You're a brave man, whoever you are. Coming so far, expecting so much
FATHER:
A salute to the man on the deck of that ship
A salute to the immigrant stranger
Heaven knows why you'd make such a terrible trip
May your own god protect you from danger
Is it freedom or love that you pray for
In your guttural accent
Too late, long gone
A salute to a fellow
Who hasn't a chance
Journey on
TATEH (spoken):
If people ask, how old are you?
LITTLE GIRL (spoken):
I don't answer
TATEH (spoken):
Your name?
LITTLE GIRL (spoken):
No name
TATEH (spoken):
Where your mother is?
LITTLE GIRL (spoken):
Dead
TATEH (spoken):
This is my father. He speaks for both of us
LITTLE GIRL (spoken):
This is my father. He speaks for both of us. Is that other ship going back home?
TATEH (spoken):
No, no. America is our home now. America is our shtetl
TATEH and LITTLE GIRL (spoken):
Amekhaye khlebn
LITTLE GIRL (spoken):
Look. Someone is waving. Where is he going?
TATEH (spoken):
He's a fool on a fool's journey
TATEH:
You depart on a ship from a country like this
Why on earth would you want to be leaving
Was it something you lost that you suddenly miss
Are you angry or possibly grieving
Do you see in my face what you've lost, sir
Are you moved by the d**h ship we sail upon
Well, perhaps you're a man who's in search of his heart
Journey on
FATHER:
Journey on
TATEH and FATHER:
Two ships pa**ing
In the kinship
Of the darkness-
FATHER:
One going from...
TATEH:
One coming to...
TATEH and FATHER:
...America!
Two men meeting
At the moment
Of a journey
For a moment
In the darkness
We're the same
MOTHER:
But what of the people
Whose boundaries chafe
FATHER:
I salute you, my friend
MOTHER:
Who marry so bravely
And end up so safe
TATEH:
May you find what you need
MOTHER:
I will be journeying here, my love
As you go
FATHER and TATEH:
As you go
MOTHER:
Journeying
FATHER:
Journeying
TATEH:
Journeying
MOTHER:
On the sea
FATHER:
On the sea
TATEH:
On the sea
ALL THREE:
We're two ships pa**ing
At a distance through the darkness
FATHER:
One going from...
MOTHER and TATEH:
One coming to...
ALL THREE:
...America!
Strangers sharing
The beginnings
Of a journey
FATHER:
I salute you!
TATEH:
God be with you!
MOTHER:
I will miss you!
ALL THREE:
In the darkness of the dawn
Journey on!