F
Green finch and linnet bird,
Bb
Nightingale, blackbird,
F Eb
How is it you sing?
Dm
How can you jubilate,
E
Sitting in cages,
Am E
Never taking wing?
Am
Outside the sky waits,
Ab
Beckoning, beckoning,
Am Am – G – Gb
Just beyond the bars.
F
How can you remain,
Bb
Staring at the rain,
Dm Eb
Maddened by the stars?
F Eb
How is it you sing
Bb
Anything? How is it you sing?
F
Green finch and linnet bird,
Bb
Nightingale, blackbird,
F Eb
How is it you sing?
Dm
Whence comes this melody
E
constantly flowing?
Am E
Is it rejoicing or merely halloing?
Am
Are you discussing or fussing
Ab
Or simply dreaming?
Am Am – G – Gb
Are you crowing?
F
Are you screaming?
Bb
Ringdove and robinet,
Dm Eb
Is it for wages,
F Eb
Singing to be sold?
Bb
Have you decided it’s
F
Safer in cages,
Bb
Singing when you’re told?
(ANTHONY enters. Instantly he sees her
and stands transfixed by her beauty)
F
My cage has many rooms,
Bb
Damask and dark.
F Eb
Nothing there sings,
Dm
Not even my lark.
Dm
Larks never will, you know,
E
When they’re captive.
Am E
Teach me to be more adaptive.
Am
Green finch and linnet bird,
Ab
Nightingale, blackbird,
Am Am – G – Gb
Teach me how to sing.
F
If I cannot fly,
Bb
Let me sing.
(She gazes into the middle distance disconsolately)
ANTHONY (Gazing at her, sings softly):
Dm Eb
I have sailed the world,
F Eb
Beheld its wonders,
Bb
From the pearls of Spain
F
To the rubies of Tibet,
Bb
But not even in London
F Eb
Have I seen such a wonder…
(Breathlessly)
Dm
Lady look at me look at me miss oh
E
Look at me please oh
Am E
Favor me favor me with your glance.
Am
Ah, miss, what do you what do you see off
Ab
There in those trees oh
Am Am – G – Gb
Won’t you give won’t you give me a chance?
F
Who would sail to Spain
Bb
For all its wonders,
Dm Eb
When in Kearney’s Lane
F Eb
Lies the greatest wonder yet?
Bb
Ah, miss, look at you look at you pale and
F
Ivory-skinned oh
Bb
Look at you looking so sad so queer.
F Eb
Promise not to retreat to the darkness
Dm
Back of your window not till you
E
not till you look down here. Look at
ANTHONY. JOHANNA:
Am E
Me! Green finch and linnet bird,
Am
Look at Nightingale, blackbird,
Ab
Me! Teach me how to sing.
Am Am – G – Gb
If I cannot fly,
F
Look at me…
Bb
Let me sing…
