Welcome to Kanagawa

Hurry up, girls, for heaven's sakes!
The Americans will have already landed!
I own a small commercial venture
With a modest clientele
In Kanagawa

I think I see one over there behind the trees!

Shh!
It's been my family's for centuries
And doing very well
For Kanagawa

I hear they're covered all with hair, like some disease
Shh!
Except their knees
Shh!

The arrival of these giants
Out of the blue
Bringing panic to my clients
Alters my view
With so many of them fleeing
Conferring, decreeing
I find myself agreeing
With the ancient haiku

The nest-building bird
Seeing the tree without twigs
Looks for new forests
Exactly

Welcome to Kanagawa
Welcome to Kanagawa!
No!
Welcome to Kanagawa
Oh
Welcome to Kanagawa

So
With all my flowers disappearing (welcome to Kanagawa)
In alarm
I've been reduced to commandeering (welcome to Kanagawa)
From the farm
But with appropriate veneering (welcome to Kanagawa)
Even green wood has its charm (yo-ho!)
Yo-ho!

That you'll have to bend for
Can you see why? (Yo-ho!)
That you need a friend for
Still, you might try (yo-ho!)
That you do through the kimono
Not very much (yo-ho)
That you use glue, then you—
No, no, no, no
Those you don't touch!

Welcome to Kanagawa
Music and food for twenty yen
Music and food
And maybe then

Welcome!
Welcome to Kanagawa!
Music and food and company!
Music and food
And for a fee
Welcome!

When a country is in trouble
Choices are few
And apart from charging double
What can you do?
With my clients off defending
And strangers descending
I find myself depending
On the ancient haiku

The bird from the sea
Not knowing pine from bamboo
Roosts on anything
Exactly.

Welcome to Kanagawa!
Glow!
Welcome to Kanagawa!
Low!
Welcome to Kanagawa!
Grow!
Welcome to Kanagawa!
Go! (Yo-ho)

Yo-ho!
Yo-ho!



Credits
Writer(s): Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

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