The American dream
America (from West Side Story)
West side story is a musical released in 1960.
The story takes place in the West side of New York
It is a modern Romeo and Juliet love story between Maria and Tony. They fall in love but they belong to two rival gangs: Maria is a Shark (a Puerto Rican gang) and Tony is a Jet (a white American gang)
America is sung only by the Sharks.It is a conversation between Puerto Rican boys and girls who have different visions of America.
I. Listen to the song and complete the lyrics:
Puerto Rico, my heart's devotion
Let it sink back in the ______
Always the hurricanes ______
Always the ______growing
And the ______owing
And the sunlight streaming
And the natives steaming
I like the island ______
I know you do!
Smoke on your pipe
And put that in!
Chorus:
I like to be in America
Okay by me in America
Everything ______in America
For a small fee in America
Buying on credit is so ______
One look at us and they charge ______
I'll have my own ______
What will you have though to keep ______?
______bloom in America
Cadillacs zoom in America
Industry boom in America
Twelve in a ______in America
Lots of new housing with more ______
Lots of doors slamming in our ______
I'll get a terraced ______
Better get rid of your ______
Life can be bright in America
If you can ______in America
Life is all ______in America
If you're all ______in America
Here you are ______and you have pride
Long as you stay on your own side
Free to be anything you ______
Free to wait tables and shine shoes
Everywhere grime in America
Organized ______in America
Terrible ______in America
You ______I'm in America
I think I'll go back to San Juan
I know what boat you can get on
Everyone there will give big cheers
Everyone there will have ______here
II. Read the song again and complete the grid with the following words:
modernity / racism / interesting / low-paid / nice residence / danger / small apartment
Girls’ vision of America / Boys’ vision of AmericaAmerica represents:
Justify by quoting the text:
Houses:
Justify by quoting the text:
Jobs:
Justifyby quoting the text:
III. Conclude:
1. The girls have a very:□ optimistic □ pessimistic vision of America
They would like to□ stay in America □ go back to their country
Justify:
2. The boys have a very:□ optimistic □ pessimistic vision of America
They would like to□ stay in America □ go back to their country
Justify: