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new broadway cast of once on this island - we dance lyrics

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[storyteller (mama), spoken]
there is an island where rivers run deep.

[storyteller (tonton), spoken]
where the sea, sparkling in the sun, earns it the name “jewel of the antilles.”

[storyteller (woman 2), spoken]
an island where the poorest of peasants labor—

[storyteller (daniel), spoken]
and the wealthiest of grands hommes play.

[storyteller (armand), spoken]
two different worlds on one island!

[storyteller (andrea), spoken]
the grands hommes, with their pale brown skins and their french ways, owners of the land and masters of their own fates.

[storyteller (man 1), spoken]
and the peasants, black as night, eternally at the mercy of the wind and the sea…

[storyteller (man 2), spoken]
who pray constantly… to the gods.

[storyteller (mama)]
asaka, grow me a garden

[storyteller (tonton)]
please agwe, don’t flood my garden

[storytellers (andrea, woman 1, woman 2)]
erzulie, who will my love be?

[all (except storyteller / papa ge)]
papa ge, don’t come around me!

[storyteller (mama), spoken]
ah ha ha ha! such powerful, such temperamental gods rule our island!

[storyteller (asaka), spoken]
asaka, mother of the earth.

[storyteller (agwe), spoken]
agwe, god of water.

[storyteller (erzulie), spoken]
erzulie, beautiful goddess of love.

[storyteller (papa ge), spoken]
and papa ge, sly demon of death.

[storytellers (erzulie, andrea, mama, women)]
asaka, grow me a garden

[storytellers (daniel, armand, asaka, tonton, man 1)]
please, agwe, don’t flood my garden

[storytellers (andrea, mama, women)]
erzulie, who will my love be?

[all storytellers]
papa ge, don’t come around me
please, agwe, don’t flood my garden
asaka, grow me a garden…

[storytellers (asaka, tonton, agwe, women, men)]
erzulie, asaka
agwe, papa ge!

[storytellers (erzulie, andrea, mama, papa ge, asaka, woman 1)]
we dance—

[storytellers (daniel, armand, tonton, agwe, men)]
we dance—

[all storytellers]
to the music of the gods
the music of the breezes through the green plantain
the murmur of the river and the roar of rain
and if the gods decide to send a hurricane

[storytellers (erzulie, andrea, mama, papa ge, asaka)]
we dance—

[man 1, tonton, agwe]
we dance—

[storytellers (erzulie, andrea, mama, papa ge, asaka, tonton, agwe, man 1)]
to their everchanging moods

[storyteller (asaka)]
we know the gods are happy when the green things grow

[storyteller (agwe)]
they’re angry when the river starts to overflow

[all storytellers]
and since we never know
which way their winds will blow
we dance to the earth
we dance to the water
the gods awake and we take no chance
our hearts hear the song
our feet move along
and to the music of the gods
we dance!

[storyteller (erzulie), spoken]
on the other side of this island, safe behind high walls and iron gates, the grands hommes dance to a different tune.

[storytellers (andrea, daniel, armand, men, women)]
la la la la la la la la!

[storyteller (agwe), spoken]
they drink champagne, entertain tourists at their fine hotels, and tell their servants:

[storyteller (daniel), spoken]
“polish up the mercedes!”

[storytellers (mama, tonton, men, women)]
la la la la la la la la!

[storyteller (papa ge), spoken]
two different worlds, never meant to meet.

[storytellers (papa ge, man 2), spoken]
the peasants labor—

[storytellers (papa ge, woman 1), spoken]
the grands hommes eat!

[storytellers (andrea, daniel, armand, women, man)]
how fine our clothes are!
how fast we drive!
we dance at parties

[storytellers (mama, papa ge, tonton, agwe, men)]
we dance
we dance

[storytellers (mama, papa ge, asaka, tonton, agwe, men, woman)]
while we are dancing just to stay alive!

[storytellers (erzulie, andrea, mama, papa ge, asaka)]
we dance—
what else is there to do

[storytellers (men)]
we dance—
what else is there to do

[storytellers (daniel, armand, tonton, agwe, men)]
but plant the seed
and pull the weed
and chop the cane

[storytellers (erzulie, andrea, mama, asaka, women)]
and bear the child
and bear the load
and bear the pain

[all storytellers]
and as the rich go racing
to their own refrain
we dance to the earth
we dance to the water
the gods awake and we take no chance
our hearts hear the song
our feet move along
and to the music of the gods
we dance to the earth
we dance to the water
the gods awake and we take no chance…

[storyteller (tonton), spoken]
two different worlds—
(ooh la!)
never meant to meet—
(ooh la!)

[storyteller (mama), spoken]
but if the gods move our feet…

[all storytellers]
we dance!
we dance!
we dance!

- new broadway cast of once on this island lyrics

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