Kurt Weill
Our Ancient Liberties
[FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER, spoken]
Maybe the government going to own everything?

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
It's possible. 

[SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER, spoken]
Maybe one man going to run the whole works?

[STUYVESANT, spoken]
It's possible. And now, perhaps we understand each other–not that it matters. 

[THIRD COUNCIL MEMBER, spoken]
It's like Julius Caesar, that Italian. 

[FOURTH COUNCIL MEMBER, spoken]
It's like Attila, that Aryan. 

[FIFTH COUNCIL MEMBER, spoken]
Now, where we got our ancient liberties?

[COUNCIL]
Ja, where we got our ancient liberties?
Ja, where we got our ancient liberties?

From back before Columbus
As far as Pericles
A Dutchman was a free man
And would not bend his knees
From Spanisher to Britisher
We put the tyrants down
And never was a Hollander
What feared a kingly frown
Now where we got our ancient liberties?
Ja, where we got our ancient liberties?

[FIRST SOLOIST]
Since Adam in the garden
Was eating off the trees
A Dutchman keeps his neck up
To do as he would please

[SECOND SOLOIST]
Now comes another Dutchman
A slicker from the twon
And fetches us with promises
To lay that freedom down

[THIRD SOLOIST]
Now where we got our ancient liberties?

[COUNCIL]
Our ancient liberties? (Our ancient liberties?)

[FOURTH SOLOIST]
One time a man at working
Took comfort in hi soul
He took his long pipe in his hand
When he went forth to bowl
[FIFTH SOLOIST]
And wheresoever his eye was cast
Across the lands und seas
A Dutchman was a citizen
And he could take his ease

[COUNCIL]
Now where we got our ancient liberties?
Ja, where we got our ancient liberties?