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?