Open your eyes, Bella

Just take a breath

Please don't tell me that again

Don't tell me how it all belongs to me

"Just take a breath, Bella"

Not outdoors, Papa

Every time I take a breath I gag

"Open your eyes, Bella"

No, open yours, Papa!

Mine are open wide

And let me tell you what I see

Rags

Rags

This land of "freedom"

We had to run to

Where now we're free

Just like everyone to wear rags

It's all day seeing them

All day smelling them

All day list'ning to peddlers selling them

Rags

Rags

I live in rags

And so I'm right in style

All the while

Sewing, sewing, see us sewing

Hags

We turn to hags

It happens bit by bit

Picture it, Papa

There I sit

Sewing buttons on rags

Oh Papa, was it so necessary

To cram us onto that stinkin' ferry

And drag us here

To become American rags?

Bella

Remember what we left

Papa

I know you had to leave

I wanted to be free

I know how much you wanted to be free (For you and)

Just don't say again (For Herschel)

How you did it all (It wasn't)

For me

When all I got is rags

And it's rags to wear

And it's rags to buy

And it's rags to wash and hang out to dry

Like old flags

It's rags on heads

And it's rags on feet

It's the latest look on Delancey Street

It's all rags

Dreams

You gave me dreams

Of such a golden place (Soon all your dreams)

Silk and lace (They will come true)

Milk and honey

Oh, that's funny (Soon)

Lies (Soon you're gonna see)

That's all they seem (Just wait and see)

And now the dreams have flown (Time)

(Things take time)

Use your eyes, Papa (Give it time)

No more lies

Papa, leave me alone!

Here's where the beauty is

Where the party is

See that handsome gent

Look how smart he is

Dancing by in his fancy clothes

And he sneers at me down his perfect nose

And his hair is clean and his skin is clear

And he wonders "what is she doing here?"

And he turns his back and the rest do too

And I want to scream "I'm the same as you!"

But it isn't true, I'm just

One more Jew

In her rags