James Dybas - Welcome to Kanagawa lyrics

[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!