America

* 1957
* 1961
* 2021

**America** est une chanson interprétée par les filles Sharks.

## Synopsis

Alors que les garçons partent pour le conseil, l'une des amies d'Anita, Rosalia, prétend avoir le mal du pays pour Porto Rico. Anita se moque de cela. Alors que Rosalia expose les beautés du pays, Anita répond en expliquant pourquoi elle préfère sa nouvelle maison.

## Paroles

* Broadway, 1957
* Film, 1961
* Film, 2021

**ROSALIA**
Puerto Rico,
You lovely island . . .
Island of tropical breezes.
Always the pineapples growing,
Always the coffee blossoms blowing . . .

**ANITA**
Puerto Rico . . .
You ugly island . . .
Island of tropic diseases.
Always the hurricanes blowing,
Always the population growing . . .
And the money owing,
And the babies crying,
And the bullets flying.
I like the island Manhattan.
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!

**OTHERS**
I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev'rything free in America
For a small fee in America!

**ROSALIA**
I like the city of San Juan.

**ANITA**
I know a boat you can get on.

**ROSALIA**
Hundreds of flowers in full bloom.

**ANITA**
Hundreds of people in each room!

**ALL**
Automobile in America,
Chromium steel in America,
Wire-spoke wheel in America,
Very big deal in America!

**ROSALIA**
I'll drive a Buick through San Juan.

**ANITA**
If there's a road you can drive on.

**ROSALIA**
I'll give my cousins a free ride.

**ANITA**
How you get all of them inside?

**ALL**
Immigrant goes to America,
Many hellos in America;
Nobody knows in America
Puerto Rico's in America!

**ROSALIA**
I'll bring a T.V. to San Juan.

**ANITA**
If there a current to turn on!

**ROSALIA**
I'll give them new washing machine.

**ANITA**
What have they got there to keep clean?

**ALL**
I like the shores of America!
Comfort is yours in America!
Knobs on the doors in America,
Wall-to-wall floors in America!

**ROSALIA**
When I will go back to San Juan.

**ANITA**
When you will shut up and get gone?

**ROSALIA**
Everyone there will give big cheer!

**ANITA**
Everyone there will have moved here!

(à venir)

**ANITA**
Puerto Rico,
My heart's devotion—
Let it sink back in the ocean.
Always the hurricanes blowing,
Always the population growing,
And the money owing,
And the sunlight streaming,
And the natives steaming.

I like the island Manhattan—
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!

**GIRLS (chorus)**
I like to be in America,
O.K. by me in America,
Everything free in America—

**BERNARDO**
For a small fee in America.

**ANITA**
Buying on credit is so nice.

**BERNARDO**
One look at us and they charge twice.

**ROSALIA**
I'll have my own washing machine.

**JUANO**
What will you have, though, to keep clean?

**ANITA**
Skyscrapers bloom in America.

**ANOTHER GIRL**
Cadillacs zoom in America.

**ANOTHER GIRL**
Industry boom in America.

**BOYS**
Twelve in a room in America.

**ANITA**
Lots of new housing with more space.

**BERNARDO**
Lots of doors slamming in our face.

**ANITA**
I'll get a terrace apartment.

**BERNARDO**
Better get rid of your accent.

**ANITA AND THREE GIRLS**
Life can be bright in America.

**ALL BOYS**
If you can fight in America.

**ALL GIRLS**
Life is all right in America.

**ALL BOYS**
If you're all-white in America.

(an interlude of WHISTLING and DANCING)

**ANITA AND CONSUELO**
Here you are free and you have pride.

**BERNARDO**
Long as you stay on your own side.

**ANITA**
Free to be anything you choose.

**ALL BOYS**
Free to wait tables and shine shoes.

**BERNARDO**
Everywhere grime in America,
Organized crime in America,
Terrible time in America.

**ANITA**
You forget I'm in America.

(An interlude of MORE DANCING)

**BERNARDO**
I think I go back to San Juan

**ANITA**
I know a boat you can get on.

**BERNARDO**
Everyone there will give big cheer!

**ANITA**
Everyone there will have moved here.

**ANITA**
Porto Rico,
La dévotion de mon cœur
Laisse la tomber dans l'océan
Toujours les ouragans qui soufflent
Toujours la population qui s'accroît
Et l'argent qui manque
Et le soleil qui tape
Et la population est fumante.

J'aime l'île de Manhattan
Fumer votre pipe et mettez-vous ça dedans

**FILLES (choeur)**
J'aime être en Amérique
C'est bon pour moi en Amérique
Tout est gratuit en Amérique

**BERNARDO**
Pour quelques sous en Amérique !

**ANITA**
Acheter du crédit est tellement plaisant

**BERNARDO**
Il suffit d'un regard pour qu'ils doublent le prix

**ROSALIA**
J'ai ma propre machine à laver

**JUANO**
Que te restera-t-il à laver ?

**ANITA**
Les grattes ciel fleurissent en Amérique !

**AUTRE FILLE**
Les Cadillacs roulent en Amérique !

**AUTRE FILLE**
L'industrie est florissante en Amérique !

**GARCONS**
Douze dans une chambre en Amérique !

**ANITA**
Beaucoup de maisons avec plus d'espace !

**BERNARDO**
Beaucoup de portes vous claquent à la figure !

**ANITA**
Je prendrai un appartement avec une terrasse !

**BERNARDO**
Tu devrais te débarrasser de ton accent !

**ANITA AND THREE GIRLS**
La vie peut être radieuse en Amérique !

**TOUS LES GARCONS**
Si tu peux te battre en Amérique !

**TOUTES LES FILLES**
La vie est parfaite en Amérique !

**TOUS LES GARCONS**
Si tu es blanc en Amérique !

**ANITA et CONSUELO**
Ici tu es libre et tu as de la dignité

**BERNARDO**
Aussi longtemps que tu restes dans ton coin

**ANITA**
Tu es libre d'être ce que tu veux être

**TOUS LES GARCONS**
Tu es libre de servir des tables ou de cirer des chaussures !

**BERNARDO**
Tout est sale en Amérique
Le crime est organisé en Amérique
Terrible temps en Amérique

**ANITA**
Tu oublies que je suis en Amérique !

**BERNARDO**
Je crois que je vais retourner à Saint-Juan

**ANITA**
Je connais un bateau qui pourra t'y amener

**BERNARDO**
Tout le monde m'accueillera comme un roi

**ANITA**
Tout le monde aura déménager ici !

**ANITA**
Puerto Rico,
You lovely island
Island of tropical breezes
Always the pineapples growing
Always the coffee blossoms blowing

**PUERTO RICANS**
And the money owing!
And the babies crying!
And the people trying

**ANITA**
I like the island Manhattan!
Smoke on your pipe and put that in!

I like to be in America!

**SHARK GIRLS**
Okay by me in America!

**PUERTO RICANS**
Everything free in America!

**BERNARDO**
For a small fee in America

**ANITA**
Buying on credit is so nice!

**BERNARDO**
One look at us and they charge twice!

**ROSALÍA**
I have my own washing machine!

**BERNARDO**
What will you have though to keep clean?

**ANITA, ROSALÍA and LUZ**
Skyscrapers bloom in America!
Cadillacs zoom in America!
Industry boom in America!

**SHARKS**
Twelve in a room in America!

**ANITA**
Lots of new housing with more space

**COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS**
Lots of doors slamming in our face!

**ANITA**
I'll get a terrace apartment

**BERNARDO**
Better get rid of your accent

**ANITA, ROSALÍA and LUZ**
Life can be bright in America

**SHARKS**
If you can fight in America!

**ANITA**
Life is all right in America!

**BERNARDO**
If you're all white in America!

**BERNARDO and QUIQUE**
La la la la la America!

**BERNARDO**
America!

**PUERTO RICANS**
La la la la la la, America!

**ANITA**
America!

**SHARK GIRLS**
Here you are free and you have pride!

**SHARKS**
Long as you stay on your own side

**SHARK GIRLS**
Free to do anything you choose!

**SHARKS**
Free to wait tables and shine shoes!

**BERNARDO**
Everywhere grime in America!
Organized crime in America!
Terrible time in America!

**ANITA**
You forget I'm in America

**BERNARDO**
I think I'll go back to San Juan

**ANITA**
I know a boat you can get on!

**BERNARDO**
Everyone there will give big cheer!

**ANITA**
Everyone there will have moved here

(à venir)

## Vidéos

West Side Story (Original Broadway Cast) - Act I- AmericaBroadway, 1957 (audio)West Side Story- Act I- AmericaFilm, 1961 (audio)West Side Story (4-10) Movie CLIP - America (1961) HDFilm, 1961 (vidéo)West Side Story – Cast 2021 - America (From "West Side Story"-Audio Only)Film, 2021 (audio)West Side Story – Cast 2021 - America (From "West Side Story")Film, 2021 (vidéo)
## Anecdotes

* La chanson (dans la version du film West Side Story sorti en 1961) fut classée 35e dans la liste des « 100 plus grandes chansons du cinéma américain » selon l'American Film Institute (AFI).

## Notes et références

1. ↑ Great Song
2. ↑ « AFI's 100 Greatest American Movie Music » [archive], American Film Institute