Piragua Guy:
Sigue andando el camino
Por toda su vida
Respira
Breathe
Piragua Guy & Community:
Y si pierdes mis huellas
Que Dios te bendiga
Respira
Nina:
This is my street
I smile at the faces
I've known all my life
They regard me with pride
And everyone's sweet
They say, "You're going places!"
So how can I say
That while I was away
I had so much to hide?
Hey guys, it's me!
The biggest disappointment you know
The kid couldn't hack it
She's back
And she’s walking real slow
Welcome home
Just breathe
Community:
Sigue andando el camino
Por toda su vida
Respira. Just breathe—
Y si pierdes mis huellas
Que Dios te bendiga
Respira
As the radio plays
Old forgotten boleros
I think of the days
When the city was mine
I remember the praise, Community:
Ay, the adoro, te quiero. Te adoro
The neighborhood waved
And said, "Nina, be brave, Te quiero
And you're gonna be fine!" Respira!
And maybe it's me, Respira!
But it all seems like
Lifetimes ago
So what do I say
To these faces
That I used to know?
"Hey, I'm home?"
Neighbor Lady:
Mira, Nina
Hey
Lady & Community:
No me preocupo por ella
They're not worried about me
Mira, allí esta nuestra estrella
They are all counting on me to succeed
Ella si da la talla
Nina: Community:
I am the one who made it out. Aaah!
The one who always Aaah!
Made the grade. Aaah!
But maybe I should Mira
Have just stayed home, Nina
When I was a chil
I stayed wide awake
Climbed to the highest place
On every fire escape—
Restless to climb. Respira
I got every scholarship
Saved every dollar
The first to go to college
How do I tell them why Respira
I'm coming back home
With my eyes on Aaah!
The horizon, Aaah!
Just me and the GWB
Asking, gee Nina
What'll you be?
Straighten the spine
Smile for the neighbors
Everything's fine
Everything's cool
The standard reply
"Lots of tests
Lots of papers."
Smile, wave goodbye
And pray to the sky
Oh God
And what will my parent say? Nina
Can I go in there and say, Nina
"I know that I'm
Letting you down, "
Abuela Claudia:
Nina
Just breathe