[MADAM, spoken]
Hurry up, girls, for heaven's sakes! The Americans will have already landed!
(sung)
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!
It's been my family's for centuries
And doing very well
For Kanagawa
[GIRLS]
I hear they're covered all with hair, like some disease
[MADAM, spoken]
Sh!
[FOURTH GIRL]
Except their knees
[MADAM]
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, spoken]
Exactly
(As a "forest" forms on the stage, she and the girls search for Americans.)
(sung)
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]
Yo-ho!
Yo-ho!
[MADAM]
Yo-ho!
(She hands out p**nographic fans to the girls and points to each in turn.)
That you'll have to bend for
Can you see why?
[FIRST GIRL]
Yo-ho!
[MADAM]
That you 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]
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!
(They all move into the "forest.")
[MADAM]
Yo-ho!
Yo-ho!