His Name Was Coalhouse Walker

I promised you America
And little one, we're there
America!
Out feet are on the solid ground
And hope is in the air!
America!

You'll soon be eating apple pie
From off a china plate
Pretty dresses, pretty dolls
Just wait!
For shining in your Tateh's eye
And just beyond this gate
America!

Here in America
Anyone at all can succeed
America! Here in America!
Do what you do
And the world will come to you
Guranteed!
America! Here in America!
I may be just a maker of art
But here you can start with less
And make a success!

Step right up and have a silhouette made by
a real artist! With ordinary paper, a pair of scissors
and some glue I will give you a thing of such
beauty! A life-like portrait of someone you love
Silhouettes of your favorite celebrity
Evelyn Nesbit. Hey look!
She's on her Vaudeville stage
harry Houdini. He practically escapes
From the page
Only a nickel
Don't walk away!
Someday these will impress
When I'm a success!
America, America.

Look at the silhouettes
Here in the tenements
Bent over sewing
Or dancing or arguing
Thouands of silhouettes
Thousands of stories to tell
Look at them, little one
Such opportunity!
Right on the corner of
Orchard and Rivington
We'll make our silhouettes
Think how they'll sell
We'll join the parade
or Americans all doing well!

Success!
Success!

I'm J.P. Morgan my friends
The wealthiest man on this earth!
Success!
You immigrants, look up to me
And you'll see what money is worth!
Success!
One day your immigrant sweat
Might get you the whole U.S.!

And if you're trapped
And failure seems imminent
Think of Houdini
That fabulous immigrant!
Break those chains with all you possess!
This is America!
This is the land of success!
Success!

The angry, fetid tenements of the Lower East Side were
worse than anything Tateh and his wife suffered in Latvia
The Little Girl was often sick now
Tateh wrapped her in his prayer shawl
What rabbi would disapprove?
America!

Look at my daughter, God.
Why have you brought us here?
How can I feed her or clothe
Or protect her here?
Where's the America
We were supposed to get?
Was it a silhouette?
hey, mister
Here in America
Anything you want, you can be!
Sucker, step up
And I'll cut you out your own guratee!
Come see the artist!
Big shot, oh yes!
red, white and blue!
Hoorau and God bless!
I'm a success!
I'm a success!
Success!
Success!

And if you're trapped
And failure seems imminent
Think of Houdini
That fabulous immigrant!
Break those chains with all you possess!
I promised you America
And little one...
We will find it.