Porgy and Bess

Responsief blok lib/tran/syn

Porgy and Bess Libretto

SYSTEMACT ONE

SYSTEMScene 1

Catfish Row

(Evening, Catfish Row is quiet. Jasbo Brown is at the

piano, playing a low-down blues while half a dozen

couples dance in a slow, almost hypnotic rhythm.)

GROUPDa-doo-da. Da-doo-da.

As a rhythmic chant.

GROUPWa, wa, wa, wa. Da-doo-da. Da-doo-da.

GROUP(Lights find another group on stage, in the center of

GROUPwhich Clara sits with her baby in her arms, rocking it

GROUPback and forth.)

CLARASummertime and the livin' is easy,

CLARAFish are jumpin', and the cotton is high.

CLARAOh your daddy's rich, and your ma is good lookin',

CLARASo hush, little baby, don' yo' cry.

Girls of chorus sing "OOH" behind Clara.

One of these mornin's you goin' to rise up singin',

Then you'll spread yo' wings an' you'll take the sky.

CLARABut till that mornin', there's a-nothin' can harm you

CLARAWith Daddy and Mammy standin' by.

CLARA(Lights come up on still another group,

CLARAthis time a crap game.)

MINGOOh, nobody knows when the Lawd is goin' to call.

MENRoll dem bones, roll.

It may be in the summertime and maybe in the fall.

MENRoll dem bones, roll.

But you got to leave yo' baby and yo' home an' all,

SPORTING LIFESo -

SPORTING LIFERoll dem bones, oh, my brudder, oh my brudder,

SPORTING LIFEOh my brudder,

SPORTING LIFERoll dem bones, roll dem bones, roll, roll.

SPORTING LIFE(The stage grows lighter and Catfish Row takes up its

SPORTING LIFEnormal life; children pass, couples walk about, the crap

SPORTING LIFEgame continues.)

rolling dice

JAKESeems like these bones don't give me

JAKEnothin' but boxcars tonight.

JAKEIt was the same two weeks ago,

JAKEan' the game broke me;

JAKEI don't likes that kind o' luck!

SPORTING LIFE(Sporting Life produces own dice, but Mingo grabs

SPORTING LIFEthem)

SPORTING LIFEDamn you, give me dem bones!

MINGOWhat do you say to these, Jake?

JAKEThem's the same cock-eyed bones

JAKEwhat clean the game out last Saturday night;

JAKEIf they rolls in this game, I rolls out.

to Robbins

SERENAHoney boy!

JAKECome on down, Robbins, we're waiting for you.

SERENAHoney, don't play tonight. Do like I say.

to Serena

ROBBINSI been sweatin' all day.

ROBBINSNight time is man's time.

ROBBINSHe got a right to forget his troubles.

ROBBINSHe got a right to play.

SERENAIf you hadn't been drinkin' you wouldn't

SERENAtalk to me that way.

SERENAYou ain't nebber hear Lord Jesus say

SERENAnuttin' 'bout got to play.

ROBBINSThere you go again.

ROBBINSLissen what I say.

ROBBINSI works all the week; Sunday got to pray.

ROBBINSBut Saturday night a man's got a right to play.

GROUPA man's got a right to play.

ROBBINSYes, sir, that's right. That ole lady of mine is hell on

ROBBINSsavin' money to join the buryin' lodge.

ROBBINSI says spend it while you is still alive and kickin'.

Picks up dice and throws with grunt.

enters

JIMLord, I is tired this night.

JIMI'm done with cotton.

JAKEBetter come along with me on the Sea Gull.

JAKEI got room for another fisherman.

JIMThat suit me.

JIMThis cotton hook done swing its las' bale of cotton.

JIMHere, who wants a cotton hook?

(Throws cotton hook to center of floor; children dive

JIMfor it; scramble.)

walking with baby

CLARASummertime and the livin' is easy.

CLARAFish are jumping etc.

CRAP SHOOTERSSeven come, seven come to pappy!

CRAP SHOOTERSThrow that beautiful number!

CRAP SHOOTERSCome seven to me! Yeah, man!

CRAP SHOOTERSI'll bet yo' wrong.

CRAP SHOOTERSI'll bet he's right! Gettin' hot!

CLARA...Oh, yo' daddy's rich and yo' ma is good lookin'...

CRAP SHOOTERSCome, seven! Shoot!

CRAP SHOOTERSMade it! He made it!

CLARASo hush, little baby, don't yo' cry!

CRAP SHOOTERSOl' man seven come down from heaven!

to Clara

JAKEWhat, that chile ain't asleep yet? Give him to me.

JAKEI'll fix him for you.

Jake takes the baby from Clara.

JAKELissen to yo' daddy warn you,

JAKE'Fore you start a-travelling,

JAKEWoman may born you, love you and mourn you,

JAKEBut a woman is a sometime thing,

JAKEYes, a woman is a sometime thing.

MINGOOh, a woman is a sometime thing.

JAKEYo' mammy is the first to name you,

JAKEThen she'll tie you to her apron string,

JAKEThen she'll shame you and she'll blame you

JAKETill yo' woman comes to claim you,

JAKE'Cause a woman is a sometime thing,

JAKEYes, a woman is a sometime thing.

SPORTING LIFEOh, a woman is a sometime thing.

JAKEDon't you never let a woman grieve you

JAKEJus' cause she got yo' weddin' ring.

JAKEShe'll love you and deceive you,

Take yo' clothes and leave you

JAKE'Cause a woman is a sometime thing.

ALLYes, a woman is a sometime thing.

ALLYes, a woman is a sometime thing,

ALLYes, a woman is a sometime thing.

JAKEThere now, what I tells you; he's asleep already.

Baby wails.

Men at crap game laugh.

CLARAHe got better sense than to listen to that nonsense.

Carries baby out.

ROBBINSCome back, Jake, you make a better crap shooter.

entering

PETERHere come de honey man.

PETERYes man, dis de honey man.

PETERYou got honey in de comb?

PETERYes man, I got honey in de comb.

PETERAn' is yo honey cheap?

PETERYes mam, my honey very cheap.

PETERHere come de honey man.

ALLHello, Peter.

LILYWell, here come my ol' man.

Takes tray from his head.

LILYNow gimme the money! Now go sit and rest.

MARIAYou Scipio! Here come Porgy. Open the gate for him.

(Scipio opens one side of iron gate. Porgy enters in

MARIAgoat cart; crowd greets him.)

JAKEHere's the ol' crap shark!

MINGONow we'll have a game!

PORGYEvenin' ladies, hello, boys!

PORGYLuck been ridin' high with Porgy today.

PORGYI got a pocket full of the Buckra money,

PORGYand it's goin' to any man

PORGYwhat got the guts to shoot it off me.

MINGOGet on down, son we'll take it.

SPORTING LIFELay it down.

ROBBINSAll right, mens, roll 'em.

ROBBINSWe done wait long enough.

JIMYou bes' wait for Crown. I see him comin',

JIMtakin' the whole sidewalk,

JIMAnd he looks like he ain't gonna stand no foolin'.

PORGYIs Bess with him?

JAKELissen to Porgy.

JAKEI think he's sof' on Crown's Bess.

Men laugh.

PORGYI ain't nebber swap two words with Bess.

MARIAPorgy got too good sense

MARIAto look twice at that liquor guzzlin' slut.

SERENAThat gal Bess ain't fit for Gawd fearin'

SERENAladies to 'sociate with.

PORGYCan't you keep yo' mouth off Bess.

PORGYBetween Gawd fearin' ladies

PORGYand the Gawd damnin' men

PORGYthat gal ain't got a chance.

JAKEAin' I tells you Porgy sof' on her?

PORGYNo, no, brudder, Porgy ain't sof' on no woman;

PORGYThey pass by singin', they pass by cryin',

PORGYalways lookin'.

PORGYThey look in my do' an' they keep on movin'.

PORGYWhen Gawd make cripple,

PORGYHe mean him to be lonely.

PORGYNight time, day time,

PORGYHe got to trabble dat lonesome road.

PORGYNight time, day time,

PORGYHe got to trabble dat lonesome road.

(Crown shouts off stage, frightening

PORGYchildren who scatter, yelling.)

MINGOHere comes Big Boy!

JAKE'Low, Crown.

JIM'Low, Bess.

General greetings.

CROWNHi, boys! All right, Sporting Life,

CROWNgive us a pint and make it damn quick.

To Bess

CROWNPay him, Bess.

CROWN(Sporting Life pulls out flask and hands

CROWNit to Crown who takes long drink.)

JAKEDrunk again!

PORGYHe sure love his liquor, but some day

she's gonna throw him down.

CROWNThat damn whiskey'-jus' as weak as water.

Passes bottle to Bess.

SERENASee that hussy drinkin' like any man!

offers bottle to Robbins

BESSHere, Robbins,

BESShave one to the Gawd fearin' ladies.

BESSThere's nothin' like 'em, thank Gawd.

Robbins drinks.

snatching bottle

CROWNOh, no, you don't.

CROWNNobody ain't drinkin' none of my licker.

Throws down money.

CROWNAll right, mens, I'm talkin' to you.

CROWNAnybody answerin' me?

All throw money down.

throwing

ROBBINSBoxcars again.

MINGOCover 'em, brother, cover 'em.

ROBBINSCover hell! I goin' to pass 'em along

ROBBINSand see if I can break my luck.

MINGORobbins' lady ain't allow him but

MINGOfifty cent and he can't take

MINGOno chances with bad luck.

All laugh.

BESSThat's all right, honey boy,

BESSI'll stake you when yo' four bits done gone.

SERENAGo ahead an' play.

SERENAYou don't need no charity off no she-devils.

BESSSee what I gets for you.

BESSYo' woman is easy when you know the way.

throws

JAKECrapped out!

Passes dice to Mingo.

to Robbins

PORGYDon't you ever let a woman grieve you.

ALLShe'll love you and deceive you,

take yo' clothes and leave you

ALL'Cause--

PORGYA woman is a sometime thing.

ALLYes, a woman is a sometime thing.

SERENAThat gal ain't need to worry 'bout

SERENAno man marryin' her.

BESSSome women got to marry a man to keep him.

CROWNShut yo' damn mouth!

CROWNYou don't give Mingo a chance to talk to the bones.

MINGOFade me.

All throw down money.

MINGOOld snake-eye go off an' die.

MINGOOld man seven come down from heaven.

Throws.

MINGOSeven!

Scoops up dice.

CROWNI ain't seen that seven yet.

You done turn 'em over.

MINGOWhat I throw?

SPORTING LIFESeven.

He throw seven.

CROWNWell there's more than one big mouth done meet his

CROWNGawd for pullin' 'em in before I reads 'em see!

CROWNAn' I'm sayin' it over tonight.

MINGOYo' mammy's gone and yo' daddy's happy

MINGOCome home little bones, come home to pappy.

Throws.

MINGOFour to make. Come four!

Throws.

PORGYCrapped out!

Picking up dice.

CROWNI shoots like that.

CROWNCome clean you little blackeyed bitches.

Throws.

MINGOSix! Six!

SPORTING LIFESix to make!

JAKESix to make!

Produces rabbit's foot.

CROWNKiss rabbit foot and show these tinhorns how to hit.

Throws.

SPORTING LIFECrapped out, come to your pappy.

Crown brushes Sporting Life back.

ROBBINSCrown too cock-eyed drunk to read 'em.

ROBBINSWhat the dice say, Bess?

BESSSeven.

CROWNI ain't drunk enough to read 'em.

CROWNThat is the trouble. Ha ha, ha ha, ha ha!

CROWNLicker ain't strong enough.

CROWNGive me a pinch of happy dust, Sportin' Life.

Sporting Life produces small paper from hat band.

Don't give him that stuff, Sportin' Life.

BESSHe's ugly drunk already.

CROWNPay him an' shut up.

CROWN(Takes paper from Sporting Life and

CROWNinhales. Bess pays Sporting Life.)

PETERFrien' an' dice an' happy dust

PETERain't meant to 'sociate...

PETERYou mens bes' go slow.

Crown draws fist to Peter.

Leave Peter be, let him alone.

MINGOHe ain't mean no harm.

throwing

SPORTING LIFEHuh, seven! Huh, seven! Huh, seven!

SPORTING LIFE'Leven come home, Fido!

Whistles, pulls pot in. All ante.

CROWNGod damn it, I ain't read 'em yet.

MENCrown cockeyed drunk,

MENhe can't tell dice from a watermelon;

MENCrown cockeyed drunk,

MENhe can't tell dice from wa--

CROWNShut up!

SPORTING LIFESix to make!

Shoots again.

JIMSeven!

MINGOCrapped out!

JAKESeven, Seven!

Porgy shoots now.

PORGYOh, little stars, little stars,

PORGYRoll, roll, roll me some light,

Throws.

PORGY'Leven little stars, come home, come home,

Pulls in pot, all ante.

PORGYRoll dis poor beggar a sun an' a moon,

PORGYa sun an' a moon.

Shoots.

MINGOLi'l Joe.

JIMLittle Joe.

PORGYOh, no, my brother, that ain't little Joe.

PORGYThey is the monin' and the evenin' stars.

An' just you watch 'em rise and shine for

PORGYthis poor beggar.

Crown grabs his arm.

Turn me loose.

Shoots.

JIMMade 'em!

CROWNRoll up that bastard's sleeve.

Porgy pulls in pot, laughs, rolls up sleeve.

CROWNWell, you got them damn dice, conjer them.

PORGYBoy, boy, boy, I'm a crap shootin' idiot.

Rolls.

SPORTING LIFECrapped out!

MINGORolled out!

Robbins takes up bones, shoots.

ROBBINSNine to make, come nine!

Throws again.

ROBBINSRead 'em. Nine spot! Nine right!

Sweeps up money, Crown seizes his wrist.

CROWNTouch that money an' meet yo' Gawd!

ROBBINSTake yo' hand off me, you lousy houn'.

ROBBINSHan' me that brick behin' you.

Pulls out of Crown's grasp.

CROWNNobody's gettin' away with Crown's money.

CROWNI'm goin' kill dat bastard!

Lunges at Robbins.

MINGOLooks like trouble to me;

MINGOHe made his nine, he made his nine.

MARIAThere's gonna be a fight, look out!

MARIAHold him back, Somebody hold them back,

MARIACrown got murder in his eye!

MARIASomebody hold them back!

PORGYCrown's drunk, Robbins bes' take care, take care,

PORGYRobbins take care. Look out Robbins!

JIMDat's right.

JIMSome one will sure get hurt.

SPORTING LIFERobbins ain't got a chance wid Crown,

SPORTING LIFEhe's too big.

SPORTING LIFE(Crown and Robbins fight fiercely as

SPORTING LIFEcrowd holds Serena back.)

SERENAOh, stop them! Don't let them fight!

SERENAI warned him, oh! Won't somebody stop them,

SERENAWon't somebody stop them now!

SERENAOh, stop them! etc.

BESSSomeone will surely get hurt, so stop,

BESSwon't somebody stop them!

BESSCome on Crown, stop it. Oh! I'm so afraid!

BESSI'm so afraid! Stop Crown!

BESSStop dem, make 'em cut it out!

MARIAAin't you men got better sense?

MARIASuch fools! Liquor always make trouble;

MARIAbetter put a stop to this fighting, it's awful,

MARIAit's simply awful! Someone stop the fight,

MARIAhe will surely kill dat man!

PORGYCrown is drunk, there's goin' to be some trouble.

PORGYRobbins, take care!

PORGYOh, Lawd have mercy an' don' let Crown hurt Robbins!

PORGYThis is de worst fight yet.

MINGOLook out, be careful!

MINGOSomeone is gonna get hurt!

MINGOHe'll kill 'im! He'll kill 'im! Crown's had too much

MINGOCrown is like a debbil when he's drinkin' like a fool.

MINGOStop!

SPORTING LIFECrown cock-eyed drunk, he don' know what he's doin'.

SPORTING LIFEYes sir, Crown has had a little but too much.

SPORTING LIFECrown's had too much, Crown is like a debbil etc.

JAKEThis looks like a real fight, Robbins done for.

JAKEOh, Crown is actin very bad, bad, bad.

JAKECome on, let's stop dem now, come on, let's stop dem!

JAKEDis Crown is like a debbil etc.

WOMENOh, stop them, someone will get hurt!

WOMENWhy must people fight?

WOMENCrown is a bad, bad bizness when he's drunk!

WOMENWhy mus' they fight, won' somebody

WOMENplease goin' an' stop dem now!

MENCrown is drunk! Robbins got no chance,

MENoh Robbins got no chance!

MENCrown is a bad, bad bizness when he's drunk!

MENSomething mighty bad is boun' to happen!

MENHold dem back! Won't some one hol' dem back

MENsome one hol'dem back!

(Crown throws Robbins down. They fight

MENfiercely; Crown jerks out his cotton hook.)

WOMENCan't anybody make Crown stop,

WOMENCan't anybody make Crown stop?

WOMENLawd, please make dem stop!

MENRobbins is gone, Yes, suh!

MENHe's got no chance! No suh!

MENLawd, please make dem stop!

MEN(Suddenly Crown stabs Robbins with cotton hook.

Robbins falls dead. Serena screams.)

MINGOJesus, he killed him!

Serena flings herself upon the body.

BESSWake up an' hit it out.

BESSYou ain't got no time to lose.

CROWNWhat the matter?

BESSYou done kill Robbins and the police will be comin'.

BESS(She shakes him to his senses. The entire

BESScrowd disperses in various directions.)

CROWNWhere you goin' hide?

CROWNThey know you an' I pulls together.

BESSSome man always willin' to take care of Bess.

CROWNWell, get this: whoever he is, he's temporary.

CROWNI'm comin' back when the hell dies down.

BESSAll right, only get out now. Here, take this.

BESS(She takes money from stocking and gives it to him. He

BESSdisappears. Bess runs senses Sporting Life behind her.)

BESSThat you, Sportin' Life?

SPORTING LIFESure, and I's the only friend you got left.

BESSFor Gawd's sake, give me a touch of happy dust.

BESSI shakin' so I can hardly stand.

He gives her powder.

SPORTING LIFEListen, I'll be goin' to New York soon.

I'll hide you out and take you with me.

SPORTING LIFEWhy you an' me will make a swell team.

BESSI ain't come to that yet.

SPORTING LIFEWell, the cops ain't goin' find me here

SPORTING LIFEfor no woman.

SPORTING LIFE(Slinks out. Bess looks for shelter, knocks at

SPORTING LIFEdoors. They are locked or slammed in her face.)

MARIAYou done bring trouble enough,

MARIAget out before the police come.

BESSYou wouldn't have a heart and let me in?

MARIANot till hell freeze!

BESSWho live over there?

MARIAThat's Porgy, he ain't no use to your kind,

MARIAhe's a cripple and a beggar.

BESSCome on, Please let me in!

BESS(Bess moves toward the gate. As she reaches it, police

whistle sends her back. She turns back, frightened

BESSPorgy's door opens. Porgy stretches out hand to her.

BESSShuddering away from Serena and the body, she goes

BESSto Porgy's door. Porgy reaches for Bess' hand. She

enters his room.)

SYSTEMScene 2

BESS(Serena's Room. Robbins's body lies on the bed,

BESSa saucer on his chest. The room is filled with

BESSmourners who drop money in the saucer)

WOMANWhere is brudder Robbins?

ALLHe's a-gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.

WOMANI seen him in de mornin' wid his work clo'es on

ALLBut he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.

MANAn' I seen him in the noontime straight and tall,

But death acome awalkin' in the evenin' fall

ALLAn' he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.

WOMANAn' death touched Robbins wid a silver knife

ALLAn' he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.

MANAn' he's sittin' in de garden by de tree of life.

ALLAn' he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.

ALLRobbins is gone, gone, gone, etc.

SERENAWho's dat acomin' climbin' up my steps?

MARIAIt's Porgy, an' Bess is ahelpin' him.

SERENAWhat's dat woman comin' here for?

(Porgy and Bess enter. Bess advances

SERENAtoward bier, money in hand.)

SERENAI don't need yo' money for to bury my man.

BESSDis ain't Crown's money.

BESSPorgy give me my money now.

SERENAAll right, then.

SERENAYou can put it in the saucer.

Bess puts money in the saucer.

WOMANCome on, sister, come on, brudder,

WOMANFill up the saucer till it overflow,

GROUPOverflow, overflow.

GROUPFill up de saucer till it overflow.

JAKEYes, my Jesus, overflow.

FIRST WOMAN'Cause de Lawd will meet you,

FIRST WOMANYes, de Lawd will meet you at the courthouse do'-

ALLCourt-house do', court-house do',

ALLDe Lawd will meet you at the court-house do'.

JAKEYes, my Jesus, court-house do'.

PETERHow de saucer stand now, my sister?

CHORUSOh, he's gone, gone, gone, etc.

SERENAFourteen dollars an' fifty cent.

MARIADat's a-comin' on, sister, you can bury him soon.

SERENAWhat am I goin' to do if I ain' got the money?

PORGYGawd got plenty of money for de saucer.

SERENABless de Lord!

PORGYAn' he goin' to soffen dese people heart for

PORGYto fill de saucer till he spill all over.

ALLAmen, my Jesus!

PORGYDe Lawd will provide a grave for his chillen.

CLARABless the Lord!

PORGYAn' he got comfort for de widder.

ALLOh, my Jesus!

PORGYAn' he goin' feed his fadderless chillen.

ALLYes Lawd, Truth Lawd!

PORGYAn' he goin' raise dis poor sinner up out of de grave.

JAKEAllelujah!

PORGYAn' set him in de shinin' seat ob de righteous.

SERENAAmen, my Jesus!

ALLOverflow, overflow,

ALLOh fill up de saucer till it overflow,

ALLEverybody helpin' now - sendin' our brudder to heaven,

ALLLawd, Oh Lawd, send down your angels!

ALLRobbins is rising to heaven!

PORGYOh, sufferin' Jesus!

PORGYYou knows right from wrong.

PORGYYou knows Robbins was a good man,

PORGYan' now he's weary an' he's goin' home.

PORGYReach down yo' lovin han' an' take our

PORGYbrudder to yo' bosom.

PORGYThank you, Lawd, Bless you Lawd.

PORGYLawd will fill de saucer, over, overflow, Oh!

ALLOverflow, overflow, Oh Lawd will fill de saucer,

ALLEv'rybody helpin' now etc.

ALLRobbins is risin' to heaven! etc. -till it overflow, Oh!

Detective enters with policeman.

DETECTIVEUm! A saucer-burial setup, I see.

DETECTIVEYou're his widow?

SERENAYes, suh.

DETECTIVEHe did not leave any burial insurance?

No, boss, he didn't leave nuttin'.

DETECTIVEWell, see to it he's buried tomorrow.

to Peter

DETECTIVEYou killed Robbins an' I'm going to hang you for it!

LILYHe ain't don um!

PETERWhat he say?

LILYHe say you kill Robbins.

DETECTIVECome along now!

PETER'Fore Gawd, boss, I ain't never done um!

DETECTIVEWho did it, then?

DETECTIVEYou heard me, who did it?

PETERCrown done it, boss. I done see him do it.

DETECTIVEYou're sure you saw him?

PETERI swear to Gawd, boss,

PETERI was right there beside him.

laughs

DETECTIVEThat's easy. I thought as much.

to Porgy

DETECTIVEYou. You saw it too.

DETECTIVEI don't want to have to put the law on you.

DETECTIVELook at me, you damn dummy!

PORGYI don't know nuttin' 'bout it, boss.

DETECTIVEThat's your room in the corner, ain't it?

PORGYYes, boss, dat's my room.

DETECTIVEThe door opens on the court, don't it?

PORGYYes, boss, my door opens on the court.

DETECTIVEAn' yet you didn't see or hear anything?

PORGYI don't know nuttin' 'bout it, boss. I been asleep inside,

PORGYand my door been closed.

DETECTIVEYou're a damn liar.

indicating Peter

DETECTIVEHe saw the killing;

DETECTIVEtake him along and lock him up as a material witness.

POLICEMANCome along, uncle.

PETERI ain't done it, boss.

MARIAHow long you goin' lock him up for?

POLICEMANTill we catch Crown.

PORGYI reckon Crown done loose now in de palmetto thickets,

PORGYan' dere ain' no rope long enough to hang him.

DETECTIVEThen the old man's out of luck.

DETECTIVERemember, you've got to bury that body tomorrow

or the board of health will take him an' turn him

DETECTIVEover to the medical students.

DETECTIVECome on, get the old man in the wagon.

PETERI ain't never done nuttin', boss.

They drag him off.

PETERI swear to Gawd I ain' never done nuttin'.

PETER(The sound of the wagon's bell fades away

PETERin the distance.)

PORGYI can't puzzle this thing out. Peter was a good man,

PORGYbut dat lousy Crown was a killer

PORGYand forever gettin' into trouble.

JAKEThat's the truth, brother.

PORGYAnd there go Peter to be lock up like a thief.

JAKELike a thief.

PORGYAn' here be Robbins with his wife

PORGYand his fadderless chillen,

PORGYan' Crown done gone his ways drinkin',

PORGYgamblin', swearin',

PORGYto do the same thing over and over somewheres else.

ALLGone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.

SERENAMy man's gone now,

SERENAAin't no use alistenin'

SERENAFor his tired foot-steps

SERENAClimbin' up de stairs. Ah!

SERENAOle Man Sorrow

SERENACome to keep me comp'ny,

SERENAWhisperin' beside me

SERENAWhen I say my prayers. Ah-

SERENAAin't dat I min' workin'·

SERENAWork an' me is travellers

SERENAJourneyin' togedder

SERENATo de promise land.

SERENABut Ole Man Sorrow's

SERENAMarchin' all de way wid me

SERENATellin' me I'm ole now

SERENASince I lose my man.

ALLSince she lose her man.

SERENASince I lose my man.

ALLAh!

SERENAOle Man Sorrow sittin' by de fireplace,

SERENAlyin' all night long by me in de bed.

SERENATellin' me de same thing mornin', noon an' eb'nin'.

SERENAThat I'm all alone now since my man is dead.

SERENAAh! Since my man is dead!

ALLAh!

SERENAAh!

entering

UNDERTAKERHow de saucer stan' now, my sister?

SERENAThere ain't but fifteen dollar.

UNDERTAKERHum! Can't bury him for fifteen dollar.

JAKEHe got to be buried tomorrow or the board of health

will take him and give him to the medical students.

kindly

UNDERTAKERLife is hard, brudder, but we all got to live.

UNDERTAKERIt cos' money for to bury a grown man.

SERENAOh, for Gawd sake,

SERENAbury him in the grave yard...

SERENADon't let the students take him

SERENAto cut up an' scatter.

SERENAI goin' to work on Monday, an' I swear to Gawd,

SERENAI goin' pay you ev'ry cent.

UNDERTAKERAll right, sister,

UNDERTAKERwit the box an' one carriage,

UNDERTAKERit'll cos' me more'n twenty-five,

UNDERTAKERbut I'll see you through.

PORGYJesus bless you, my brudder.

UNDERTAKERYou can all be ready tomorrow mornin'.

UNDERTAKERIt's a long trip to the cemetery.

He leaves.

GROUPOh, he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone

suddenly jumping up

BESSOh, the train is at the station

BESSAn' you better get on board

BESS'Cause it's leavin' today.

ALLLeavin' today, leavin' today.

BESSOh, the train is at the station

BESSAn' you better get on board,

BESS'Cause it's leavin' today,

BESS'An it's headin' for The Promise Lan'.

ALLHeadin' for the Promise' Lan'.

BESSOh, we're leavin' for the Promise Lan'

BESSLeavin' for the Promise' Lan'.

ALLKeep that drivin' wheel arollin', rollin' Let it roll...

ALLUntil we meet our brudder in the Promise' Lan'.

BESSOh, I got my ticket ready

BESSan' de time is gettin' short

BESS'Cause we're leavin' today.

ALLLeavin' today, leavin' today.

BESSOh, I got my ticket ready

BESSan' de time is gettin' short

BESS'Cause we're leavin' today,

BESSan' we're headed for the Promise Lan'.

ALL...headed for the Promise Lan'

BESSOh, we're leavin' for the Promise Lan'

BESSLeavin' for the Promise' Lan'.

ALLKeep that drivin' wheel arollin', rollin` Let it roll...

ALLUntil we meet our brudder in the Promise' Lan'.

ALLOh, we're leavin' for the Promise' Lan'

ALLan' you better get on board all you sinners,

ALLoh, you better get on board.

ALL'Cause we're leavin' etc...

ALL'Cause we're leavin' for the Lan', Oh!

ALLKeep that drivin' wheel arollin', rollin' 'til

ALLwe meet our brudder in the Promise' Lan'.