Richard Kiley - Aldonza lyrics

DON QUIXOTE My lady... ALDONZA I am not your lady!... I am not any kind of a lady! I was spawned in a ditch By a mother who left me there Naked and cold and too hungry to cry; I never blamed her I'm sure she left hoping That I'd have the good sense to die! Then, of course, there's my father... I'm told that young ladies Can point to their fathers With maidenly pride; Mine was some regiment Here for an hour I can't even tell you which side! So of course I became As befitted my delicate birth The most casual bride Of the murdering scum of the earth! DON QUIXOTE And still thou art my lady ALDONZA And still he torments me! How should I be a lady? For a lady has modest and maidenly airs And a virtue I somehow suspect that I lack; It's hard to remember these maidenly airs In a stable laid flat on your back! Won't you look at me, look at me God, won't you look at me! Look at the kitchen s*ut reeking with sweat! Born on a dung heap to die on a dung heap A strumpet men use and forget! If you feel that you see me Not quite at my virginal best Cross my palm with a coin And I'll willingly show you the rest! DON QUIXOTE Never deny thou art Dulcinea ALDONZA Take the clouds from your eyes And see me as I really am! You have shown me the sky But what good is the sky To a creature who'll never Do better than crawl? Of all the cruel ba*tards Who've badgered and battered me You are the cruelest of all! Can't you see what your gentle Insanities do to me? Rob me of anger and give me despair! Blows and abuse I can take and give back again Tenderness I cannot bear! So please torture me now With your "Sweet Dulcineas" no more! I am no one! I'm nothing! I'm only Aldonza the who*e! DON QUIXOTE Now and forever thou art my lady Dulcinea! (Aldonza screams in despair and collapses As Don Quixote lies in bed dying, his mind "retreats to some secret place." )