[Aunt March, spoken]
We earn our dreams in this world, Josephine
Ha! It's foolish of me to think you could ever change your ways

[Jo, spoken]
I could try

[Aunt March, sung]
You could never bend your will
You could never follow through
You could never bite your tongue
Though your tongue may split in two

If you want to live your dreams
These are things you have to do!

(spoken)
How could you change? You can't, not you

[Jo, spoken]
I could change if I wanted to

[Aunt March, sung]
Coul you practice self-control?
Could you possibly be shy?
Could you wear a corset tight in the heat of mid-July?
These are rules you must obey
Every one which you defy!

(spoken)
You'll never change!
You won't, that's why

(sung)
Yet somewhere deep within my heart I do believe
You could captivate the world
If you could change
There is so much you could achieve

In time you could succeed and travel very far indeed
You could be beguiling

[Jo, sung]
Charming? Me?

[Aunt March, sung]
Someone well mannered, a model of grace
Learn the art of smiling

[Jo]
That could be hard
[Aunt March]
It isn't very hard
For someone full of dreams like you
If you work, you'll find there's nothing you can't do

[Jo]
So if I change we'll go to Paris?

[Aunt March]
Change completely or don't waste my time!

[Jo]
If I change we'll stop in Antwerp?

[Aunt March]
Gracious living will make you sublime

[Jo]
If I change you'll take me to Zurich?

[Aunt March]
Every city from Dublin to Kahn!

[Jo]
Surely with your guidance
I can learn to use feminine wiles with elan
I could be beguiling
[Aunt March]
Ah-a-ah

[Jo]
Ah-a-ah

[Aunt March]
Ah-a-ah, ah

[Jo]
I could learn to charm a donkey for a chance to see the world
Learn the art of smiling

[Aunt March]
Ah-a-ah, Ah-a-ah

[Both]
Ah-a-ah a-ah

[Jo]
I could button up my mind
And keep my thoughts perfumed and permed
Yes, I surely think I could

[Aunt March, spoken]
If you could that would be good

[Jo]
There's nothing that I wouldn't suffer to see the world!
I can do it if I try
I can do it by sheer will

[Aunt March, sung]
All you have to do is work to acquire any skill

[Both]
These are things a girl must do when she has dreams she must fulfill

[Aunt March, spoken]
Change how you walk and how you talk
Change how you think and how you are

[Jo]
I'll hold my breath and hold my tongue, do what it takes to travel far!

[Aunt March]
Could you?

[Jo]
Ah-a-ah a-ah

[Aunt March]
Could you?

[Jo]
Ah-a-ah a-ah

[Aunt March]
Could you?

[Jo]
Ah-a-ah, ah-a-ah, ah-a-ah ah-a-ah
Yes, I could!

[Aunt March]
Good!