Listen to An American Soldier, Act I Scene 2: I want something different (Danny, Josephine) by American Composers Orchestra, Carolyn Kuan, Brian Vu & Hannah Cho

An American Soldier, Act I Scene 2: I want something different (Danny, Josephine)

American Composers Orchestra, Carolyn Kuan, Brian Vu & Hannah Cho

Classical

Apple Music Note

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Featured In

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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS

American Composers Orchestra

American Composers Orchestra

Orchestra

Carolyn Kuan

Conductor

Brian Vu

Tenor

Hannah Cho

Soprano

COMPOSITION & LYRICS

Henry David Hwang

Henry David Hwang

Librettist

Huang Ruo

Composer

PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING

Doron Schachter

Doron Schachter

Recording Engineer

Silas Brown

Recording Engineer

Jan "Stan" Kybert

Jan "Stan" Kybert

Immersive Mixing Engineer

Adam Abeshouse

Producer

Lyrics

DANNY

But.

I want something different,

A life that’s right for me.

Not sitting in some classroom

Bored out of my skull.

JOSEPHINE

Danny you’re all set!

DANNY

I want to be

In the middle of the action

On a team where

We’ve got each other’s backs.

JOSEPHINE

Got the Chinatown,

All-American dream

DANNY

I’ll become a cop

With my army training,

Send my paycheck home

To ah ma and a pa.

Dad works so hard,

Always at the restaurant.

JOSEPHINE

You are not thinking at all!

You can do better!

The army’s for people

Who got no other choices

DANNY

I’ll make things better

As a soldier,

Better for them,

Better for everyone,

Better for me.

JOSEPHINE

If this is what you want?

DANNY

This is what I want!

JOSEPHINE

You’d rather be dead?

DANNY

I’m gonna sign up

I’ll become a soldier

An American soldier

For all the world to see!

JOSEPHINE

Like that’s a better life?

You’ll just end up shot up

In some war!

Enough!

DANNY

Why don’t you want me

To follow my dreams?

JOSEPHINE

I only want you

To choose another dream!

DANNY

I thought we were friends!

JOSEPHINE

Maybe even more

DANNY

Friends are always

There for each other

JOSEPHINE

But friends always

Tell the truth.

DANNY

You’ve told me what you think.

Will you be here for me?

JOSEPHINE

Yes, I will

I’ll always be here for you.

Written by: Henry David Hwang, Huang Ruo

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