Porgy And Bess
Music: George Gershwin
Lyrics: DuBose Heyward, Ira Gershwin
Premiere: September 30, 1935
Story:
In 1926 George Gershwin read Porgy by DuBose Heyward, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, and immediately wrote to the author suggesting that they collaborate on a folk opera based on the novel. Heyward was enthusiastic, but it was 1934 before Gershwin's composing and performing schedules permitted him to begin actual work on the project. Meanwhile, Heyward and his wife Dorothy dramatized Porgy for a 1927 production which incorporated spirituals into the action. This Theater Guild presentation of Porgy ran for 367 performances and elicited interest from others, among them Al Jolson, in using it as a basis for some sort of musical production. However, nothing came of these ideas and in 1934, after years of correspondence, George and Ira Gershwin joined DuBose Heyward in Charleston to write the opera which had been germinating in George's imagination for several years.
They settled for the summer at Folly Beach, located on a barrier island about ten miles from Charleston, where they could observe the Gullahs an isolated group living on adjacent James Island who became the prototypes of the Catfish Row residents. It was a happy collaboration as DuBose Heyward wrote the libretto, and Ira Gershwin and Heyward wrote the lyrics. (Heyward's contributions included the lyrics to Summertime and My Man's Gone Now.) By mid-August the Gershwins left Charleston, and George applied himself to finishing the recitatives and orchestrating the opera. When it was finally completed in July, 1935, the 700 pages of music represented his most ambitious creation and his favorite composition. According to David Ewen, Gershwin's first biographer, he " never quite ceased to wonder at the miracle that he had been its composer. he never stopped loving each and every bar, never wavered in the conviction that he had produced a work of art."
Next, Gershwin involved himself with the casting and production of his opera.
Todd Duncan, the first Porgy, recalled that Gershwin was "going around the country looking for his Porgy." Music critic Olin Downes recommended that Gershwin hear Duncan, who was teaching at Howard University as well as singing, but Gershwin rejected the idea because he felt that "he didn't want any university professor to sing." For his part, Duncan was not interested because Gershwin was "Tin Pan Alley and something beneath me." Finally the two arranged a meeting during which Gershwin played and Duncan sang, and Gershwin asked Duncan to take the part of Porgy. Gershwin arranged an evening for Duncan with Ira Gershwin and his wife, the Theater Guild board, and prospective backers.
Duncan recalls that he was supposed to sing three or four songs, but " I sang an hour, an hour and a half." Then Ira and George got out the score of Porgy and Bess and sang the entire opera in "their awful, rotten voices." Duncan continues "I just thought I was in heaven. These beautiful melodies in this new idiom it was something I had never heard. I just couldn't get enough of it when he ended with I'm on My Way I was crying. I was weeping."
Gershwin chose to have Porgy and Bess given a Broadway run at the Alvin Theater rather than a full operatic production, to assure more performances, and the word opera was carefully avoided. The first cast of nineteen singing principals
included, with Duncan, Anne Brown as Bess, John W. Bubbles as Sportin' Life, Warren Coleman as Crown, and the Eva Jessye Choir; Rouben Mammoulian produced and directed, and Alexander Smallens conducted. Porgy and Bess tried out in Boston and opened In New York on October 10, 1935, for a disappointing run of 124 performances; it was years later before the show's backers got their money back, and more.
Porgy and Bess was George Gershwin's longest and most ambitious creation, but it was not truly successful during his lifetime. Some of the songs had achieved popularity before Gershwin's death in 1937, but the work earned real approval and favor only after the 1940 Theater Guild presentation of a slightly revised version. For years it was performed more frequently in Europe, where it was considered a true American opera, than in America. Porgy and Bess received its first uncut production in Houston in the 1970's, conducted by John DeMain, to great acclamation, and it was finally produced at the Met some 50 years after the first production. It is probably the only opera founded on 1920's and 30's jazz which has survived past the post-World War II period, when composers began to use jazz satirically.
Heyward's novel was inspired by a newspaper article about a maimed black man who committed murder in the height of passion, and was based on a real-life well-known local character called "Goat Sammy," who could not stand upright and was forced to travel about in a goat-drawn cart. The three-act opera takes place in Catfish Row, once an aristocratic mansion, now a crowded waterfront tenement.
The opera opens with a brief overture, then a piano is heard playing Jasbo Brown Blues. It is night and Clara sings a lullaby, Summertime, to her baby as a crap game takes place in the background. Jake, Clara's husband, sings A woman is a sometime thing to the baby, and we hear the call of the honeyman.
Porgy enters in his goat cart as his friends tease him about caring for Bess.
He protests that When Gawd make a cripple, He mean him to be lonely. As the
crap game continues (Boxcars again) a drunken Crown enters with
flashily-dressed Bess and joins the game. Enraged by his losses, Crown attacks
Robbins before the horrified Catfish Row inhabitants, and kills him with a
cotton hook. Bess gives Crown money as he goes to hide, and Sportin' Life
offers to take Bess to New York with him. She refuses, but as the police
whistles are heard she pleads for shelter and Porgy opens his door to her.
Scene ii opens in Serena's room where Robbins' body lies on the bed with a
saucer on his chest to receive donations for burial expenses. Many people
cluster around singing spirituals to mourn Robbins and comfort his widow,
Serena. Porgy and Bess enter and put money in the saucer as the people exhort
one another to do the same, in Overflow, overflow. A detective arrives with
policemen and accuses Peter, a half-deaf old man, in an attempt to get the
others to accuse Crown. Peter is taken off as a "material witness," and Serena
sings My man's gone now. Bess leads a last spiritual, ending the scene.
Act II takes place a month later in Catfish Row. Jake and the fishermen sing
It take a long pull to get there as they repair their nets and prepare to go
to sea, despite warnings about September storms. Porgy appears at his window
singing I got plenty o' nuttin, and the people comment on the positive change
in Porgy since Bess came to live with him. Sportin' Life struts in and Maria,
the cook, blows white powder from his hand. He protests, but she tells him
nobody ain' goin' peddle happy dust roun' my shop and threatens him with a
carving knife. He runs off as Lawyer Frazier enters looking for Porgy, to whom
he sells a divorce' for Bess, pointing out as he does so that it is much more
difficult to divorce someone who has never been married. Next Mr. Archdale
appears, offering to provide bond for the still-jailed Peter. (NB: Sometimes
the Buzzard Song is left out, sometimes it is placed elsewhere in the opera;
Gershwin himself excised it in an attempt to cut the role of Porgy slightly,
as it is fatiguing.) Porgy sees a buzzard, and he and the chorus sing the
Buzzard Song, warning of bad luck if the bird alights. Sportin' Life reappears
and again suggests to Bess that she go to New York with him, but she declines,
saying that she hates the sight of him. Porgy warns him to stay away from
Bess, who now tells Porgy that she will not leave him to go to the picnic, as
he cannot go. They sing the beautiful love duet Bess, you is my woman now, and
Maria insists that Bess must join the picnickers as they start on their way.
As they leave Porgy happily sings I got plenty o' nuttin.
Scene ii opens on Kittiwah Island at evening. The picnic is in full swing, and
the participants sing and dance to I ain' got no shame; next Sportin' Life
treats them to a sermon on the virtues of skepticism in the brilliant It ain't
necessarily so. Serena comes upon the scene and denounces everyone as sinners
(Shame on all you sinners), further reminding them that they must hurry or the
boat will leave them behind. As Bess lingers for a moment, Crown appears and
tells her that he will soon return for her. She pleads to be allowed to remain
with Porgy and to live a decent life, but Crown laughs and tells her that her
living arrangement is temporary but permissible, and will cease the moment he
comes back. She asks him to find some other woman (What you want wid Bess?),
but his old attraction reasserts itself and as the boat leave Bess remains
behind with Crown.
As Scene iii begins Jake and the fishermen are preparing to go fishing,
singing a bit of It takes a long pull to get there. Peter has been released
from prison, and we hear the sound of Bess' delirious voice from Porgy's room,
indicating that she has returned from Kittiwah Island. She was lost for two
days, and incoherent when she returned home. Serena prays for her, and tells
Porgy that Bess will soon be well as she sings Oh, doctor Jesus. We hear the
cries of the strawberry woman, the honeyman, and the crab man; finally Bess,
sounding recovered, calls for Porgy. She talks with Porgy, who tells her that
he knows that she has been with Crown, but that he loves her all the same. She
says that although she told Crown she would go with him she really wants to
stay with Porgy and is fearful of the effect of Crown's presence on her,
singing I loves you, Porgy. Porgy assures her that he will take care of Crown
if he bothers Bess again. Clara watches the sea anxiously as a storm
approaches, and the fearful sound of the hurricane bell is heard as the scene
ends.
The Scene iv curtain rises on Serena's room as a terrible storm rages outside.
People huddle in anxious groups, singing Oh, doctor Jesus. Peter sings I hear
death knockin' at de do' and almost immediately a real knock is heard on the
door as the people rush to hold the door closed. It is Crown, who has come for
Bess, and he throws Porgy down as he attempts to come between Crown and Bess.
Serena warns Crown that at any moment the storm might get him, but he scoffs
at her warnings, singing If God want to kill me He had plenty of chance tween
here an' Kittiwah Island. The frightened keening continues until Crown stops
it as he strikes up a cheerful number, A red-headed woman makes a choo-choo
jump its track. Suddenly Clara thrusts her baby at Bess and runs out because
she has seen Jake's fishing boat floating upside-down (Jake's boat in de
river). Bess urges the men to follow her but only Crown will brave the storm.
He leaves, promising that he will return for Bess, and the act ends with the
people again pleading for mercy in Oh, doctor Jesus.
Act III opens in the courtyard again, with the people mourning Clara, Jake,
and Crown, all of whom they fear are lost. As they start to pray for Crown,
Sportin' Life interrupts them with laughter. Maria scolds him, but he hints
that Crown is not dead and he slyly wonders about the result of the rivalry
between Crown and Porgy over Bess. Bess sings Summertime to Clara's baby, and
everyone drifts off. Suddenly Crown is seen at the gate, moving stealthily
across the court toward Porgy's door. As he passes the window an arm extends,
grasping a long knife which is plunged into Crown's back. As Crown staggers,
Porgy seizes him around the neck and throttles him. Porgy exclaims Bess, Bess,
you got a man now.
Scene ii takes place the next afternoon as the police arrive to investigate
Crown's death. Serena says she was ill and knows nothing of the death of the
man who, as everyone in Catfish Row will swear, killed her husband Robbins.
Porgy is brought in and dragged away to identify Crown's body, protesting that
he will have nothing to do with Crown. (His reluctance has been increased by
Sportin' Life, who said that Crown's wound will begin to bleed when the man
who killed him comes near the body.)
Bess comes in and Sportin' Life offers her some happy dust to help her over
her nerves at the prospect of losing Porgy. She tries to refuse, but cannot,
and Sportin' Life again urges her to come to New York with him, singing
There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York.
The final Scene is again in Catfish Row, a week later. Life seems normal,
children dance and sing, and the people greet one another in Good mornin',
sistuh. Porgy returns after a week in jail for contempt of court because he
would not look at Crown's body. He has brought presents for everyone (after
some successful crap-shooting in jail), as the people sing It's Porgy comin'
home. He finally realizes that Bess is not there, and sings the heartbreaking
Oh, Bess, oh where's my Bess? Serena and Maria join in, one condemning Bess
and one explaining and excusing her, and in this trio Porgy expresses his
longing for her. Told that she has gone to New York, Porgy asks that his
goat-cart be brought to him. As he starts out of Catfish Row to find Bess
wherever she may be and bring her back, he and the chorus sing the finale, Oh
Lawd, I'm on my way.
ACT ONE
1.Summertime
2.A Woman Is A Sometime Thing
3.Here Come De Honey Man
4.They Pass By Singing
5.Oh Little Stars
6.Gone, Gone, Gone
7.Overflow
8.My Man's Gone Now
9.Leavin' For The Promise' Lan'
ACT TWO
10.It Take A Long Pull To Get There
11.I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
12.Buzzard Song
13.Bess, You Is My Woman Now
14.Oh, I Can't Sit Down
15.I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'(Reprise)
16.I Ain't Got No Shame
17.It Ain't Necessarily No
18.Doctor Jesus
19.Strawberry Woman
20.Crab Man
21.I Loves You, Porgy
22.Oh Hev'nly Father/Oh De Lawd Shake De Heavens
23.Oh, Dere's Somebody Knockin' At De Do'
24.Red-Headed Woman
25.Clara, Clara
26.There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York
27.Good Mornin' Sistuh!
28.Oh, Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
29.Finale: Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way
ACT ONE
Scene 1
CATFISH ROW
(Evening, Catfish Row is quiet. Jasbo Brown is at the piano, playing a low-down blues while half a dozen couples dance in a slow, almost hypnotic rhythm.)
GROUP
Da-doo-da. Da-doo-da.
(As a rhythmic chant)
Wa, wa, wa, wa. Da-doo-da. Da-doo-da.
(Lights find another group on stage, in the center of which Clara sits with her baby in her arms, rocking it back and forth)
CLARA
Summertime and the livin' is easy,
Fish are jumpin', and the cotton is high.
Oh your daddy's rich, and your ma is good lookin',
So hush, little baby, don' yo' cry.
(Girls of chorus sing "OOH" behind Clara)
One of these mornin's you goin' to rise up singin',
Then you'll spread yo' wings an' you'll take the sky
But till that mornin', there's a-nothin' can harm you
With Daddy and Mammy standin' by.
(Lights come up on still another group, this time a crap game.)
MINGO
Oh, nobody knows when the Lawd is goin' to call.
MEN
Roll dem bones, roll.
SPORTING LIFE
It may be in the summertime and maybe in the fall.
MEN
Roll dem bones, roll.
SPORTING LIFE
But you got to leave yo' baby and yo' home an' all,
So --
SPORTING LIFE AND MEN
Roll dem bones, oh, my brudder, oh my brudder,
Oh my brudder,
Roll dem bones, roll dem bones, roll, roll.
(The stage grows lighter and Catfish Row takes up its normal life; children pass, couples walk about, the crap game continues.)
JAKE
(Rolling dice)
Seems like these bones don't give me nothin' but boxcars tonight.
It was the same two weeks ago, an' the game broke me;
I don't likes that kind o' luck!
SPORTING LIFE
(Sporting Life produces own dice, but Mingo grabs them)
Damn you, give me dem bones!
MINGO
What do you say to these, Jake?
JAKE
Them's the same cock-eyed bones
what clean the game out last Saturday night;
If they rolls in this game, I rolls out.
SERENA
(To Robbins)
Honey boy!
JAKE
Come on down, Robbins, we're waiting for you.
SERENA
Honey, don't play tonight. Do like I say.
ROBBINS
(To Serena)
I been sweatin' all day. Night time is man's time. He got a
right to forget his troubles. He got a right to play.
SERENA
If you hadn't been drinkin' you wouldn't talk to me that way.
You ain't nebber hear Lord Jesus say nuttin' 'bout got to play.
ROBBINS
There you go again. Lissen what I say.
I works all the week; Sunday got to pray.
But Saturday night a man's got a right to play.
GROUP
A man's got a right to play.
ROBBINS
Yes, sir, that's right. That ole lady of mine is hell on
savin' money to join the buryin' lodge.
I says spend it while you is still alive and kickin'.
(Picks up dice and throws with grunt)
JIM
(Enters)
Lord, I is tired this night. I'm done with cotton.
JAKE
Better come along with me on the Sea Gull. I got room for
another fisherman.
JIM
That suit me. This cotton hook done swing its las' bale of
cotton. Here, who wants a cotton hook?
(Throws cotton hook to center of floor; children dive for it; scramble)
CLARA
(Walking with baby)
Summertime and the livin' is easy. Fish are jumping etc. ...
CRAP SHOOTERS
Seven come, seven come to pappy! Throw that beautiful
number! Come seven to me! Yeah, man! I'll bet yo' wrong.
I'll bet he's right! Gettin' hot!
CLARA
...Oh, yo' daddy's rich and yo' ma is good lookin'...
CRAP SHOOTERS
Come, seven! Shoot! Made it! He made it!
CLARA
So hush, little baby, don't yo' cry!
CRAP SHOOTERS
Ol' man seven come down from heaven!
JAKE
(To Clara)
What, that chile ain't asleep yet? Give him to me.
I'll fix him for you.
(Jake takes the baby from Clara)
Lissen to yo' daddy warn you,
'Fore you start a-travelling,
Woman may born you, love you and mourn you,
But a woman is a sometime thing,
Yes, a woman is a sometime thing.
MINGO
Oh, a woman is a sometime thing.
JAKE
Yo' mammy is the first to name you,
Then she'll tie you to her apron string,
Then she'll shame you and she'll blame you
Till yo' woman comes to claim you,
'Cause a woman is a sometime thing,
Yes, a woman is a sometime thing.
SPORTING LIFE
Oh, a woman is a sometime thing.
JAKE
Don't you never let a woman grieve you
Jus' cause she got yo' weddin' ring.
She'll love you and deceive you,
Take yo' clothes and leave you
'Cause a woman is a sometime thing.
ALL
Yes, a woman is a sometime thing.
Yes, a woman is a sometime thing,
Yes, a woman is a sometime thing.
JAKE
There now, what I tells you; he's asleep already.
(Baby wails)
(Men at crap game laugh).
CLARA
He got better sense than to listen to that nonsense.
(Carries baby out)
ROBBINS
Come back, Jake, you make a better crap shooter.
PETER
(Entering)
Here come de honey man.
Yes man, dis de honey man.
You got honey in de comb?
Yes man, I got honey in de comb.
An' is yo honey cheap?
Yes mam, my honey very cheap.
Here come de honey man.
ALL
Hello, Peter.
LILY
Well, here come my ol' man.
(Takes tray from his head)
Now gimme the money! Now go sit and rest.
MARIA
You Scipio! Here come Porgy. Open the gate for him.
(Scipio opens one side of iron gate. Porgy enters in goat cart; crowd greets him)
JAKE
Here's the ol' crap shark!
MINGO
Now we'll have a game!
PORGY
Evenin' ladies, hello, boys! Luck been ridin' high with Porgy
today. I got a pocket full of the Buckra money, and it's
goin' to any man what got the guts to shoot it off me.
MINGO
Get on down, son we'll take it.
SPORTING LIFE
Lay it down.
ROBBINS
All right, mens, roll 'em. We done wait long enough.
JIM
You bes' wait for Crown. I see him comin', takin'
the whole sidewalk,
And he looks like he ain't gonna stand no foolin'.
PORGY
Is Bess with him?
JAKE
Lissen to Porgy. I think he's sof' on Crown's Bess.
(Men laugh)
PORGY
I ain't nebber swap two words with Bess.
MARIA
Porgy got too good sense to look twice at that
liquor guzzlin' slut.
SERENA
That gal Bess ain't fit for Gawd fearin'
ladies to 'sociate with.
PORGY
Can't you keep yo' mouth off Bess. Between Gawd fearin'
ladies and the Gawd damnin' men that gal ain't got a chance.
JAKE
Ain' I tells you Porgy sof' on her?
PORGY
No, no, brudder, Porgy ain't sof' on no woman;
They pass by singin', they pass by cryin', always lookin'.
They look in my do' an' they keep on movin'.
When Gawd make cripple, He mean him to be lonely.
Night time, day time,
He got to trabble dat lonesome road.
Night time, day time,
He got to trabble dat lonesome road.
(Crown shouts off stage, frightening children who scatter, yelling.)
MINGO
Here comes Big Boy!
JAKE
'Low, Crown.
JIM
'Low, Bess.
(General greetings)
CROWN
Hi, boys! All right, Sporting Life, give us
a pint and make it damn quick.
CROWN
Pay him, Bess.
(Sporting Life pulls out flask and hands it to Crown who takes long drink)
JAKE
Drunk again!
PORGY
He sure love his liquor, but some day
she's gonna throw him down.
CROWN
That damn whiskey'-jus' as weak as water.
(Passes bottle to Bess)
SERENA
See that hussy drinkin' like any man!
BESS
(Offers bottle to Robbins)
Here, Robbins, have one to the Gawd fearin' ladies.
There's nothin' like 'em, thank Gawd.
(Robbins drinks)
CROWN
(Snatching bottle)
Oh, no, you don't. Nobody ain't drinkin' none of my licker.
(Throws down money)
All right, mens, I'm talkin' to you. Anybody answerin' me?
(All throw money down)
ROBBINS
(Throwing)
Boxcars again.
MINGO
Cover 'em, brother, cover 'em.
ROBBINS
Cover hell! I goin' to pass 'em along and see
if I can break my luck.
MINGO
Robbins' lady ain't allow him but fifty cent and he can't
take no chances with bad luck.
(All laugh)
BESS
That's all right, honey boy, I'll stake you when yo' four
bits done gone.
SERENA
Go ahead an' play. You don't need no charity
off no she-devils.
BESS
See what I gets for you. Yo' woman is easy
when you know the way.
JAKE
(Throws)
Crapped out!
(Passes dice to Mingo)
PORGY
(To Robbins)
Don't you ever let a woman grieve you
PORGY and ALL
She'll love you and deceive you,
take yo' clothes and leave you
'Cause--
PORGY
A woman is a sometime thing.
ALL
Yes, a woman is a sometime thing.
SERENA
That gal ain't need to worry 'bout no man marryin' her.
BESS
Some women got to marry a man to keep him.
CROWN
Shut yo' damn mouth!
You don't give Mingo a chance
to talk to the bones.
MINGO
Fade me.
(All throw down money)
Old snake-eye go off an' die.
Old man seven come down from heaven.
(Throws)
Seven!
(Scoops up dice)
CROWN
I ain't seen that seven yet.
You done turn 'em over.
MINGO
What I throw?
SPORTING LIFE
Seven.
Seven.
PORGY
He throw seven.
CROWN
Well there's more than one big mouth done meet his Gawd
for pullin' 'em in before I reads 'em see!
An' I'm sayin' it over tonight.
MINGO
Yo' mammy's gone and yo' daddy's happy
Come home little bones, come home to pappy.
(Throws)
Four to make. Come four!
(Throws)
PORGY
Crapped out!
CROWN
(Picking up dice)
I shoots like that.
Come clean you little blackeyed bitches.
(Throws)
MINGO
Six! Six!
SPORTING LIFE
Six to make!
JAKE
Six to make!
CROWN
(Produces rabbit's foot)
Kiss rabbit foot
and show these tinhorns how to hit.
(Throws)
SPORTING LIFE
Crapped out, come to your pappy
(Crown brushes Sporting Life back)
ROBBINS
Crown too cock-eyed drunk to read 'em.
What the dice say, Bess?
BESS
Seven.
CROWN
I ain't drunk enough to read 'em.
That is the trouble. Ha ha, ha ha, ha ha!
Licker ain't strong enough.
Give me a pinch of happy dust, Sportin' Life.
(Sporting Life produces small paper from hat band)
BESS
Don't give him that stuff, Sportin' Life.
He's ugly drunk already.
CROWN
Pay him an' shut up.
(Takes paper from Sporting Life and inhales. Bess pays Sporting Life.)
PETER
Frien' an' dice an' happy dust
ain't meant to 'sociate...
You mens bes' go slow.
(Crown draws fist to Peter.)
JAKE
Leave Peter be, let him alone.
MINGO
He ain't mean no harm.
SPORTING LIFE
(Throwing)
Huh, seven! Huh, seven! Huh, seven! 'Leven come home,
Fido!
(Whistles, pulls pot in. All ante)
CROWN
God damn it, I ain't read 'em yet.
MEN
Crown cockeyed drunk, he can't tell dice from a watermelon;
Crown cockeyed drunk, he can't tell dice from wa--
CROWN
Shut up!
SPORTING LIFE
Six to make!
(Shoots again)
JIM
Seven!
MINGO
Crapped out!
JAKE
Seven, Seven!
Porgy shoots now.
PORGY
Oh, little stars, little stars,
Roll, roll, roll me some light,
(Throws)
'Leven little stars, come home, come home,
(Pulls in pot, all ante)
Roll dis poor beggar a sun an' a moon,
A sun an' a moon.
(Shoots)
MINGO
Li'l Joe.
JIM
Little Joe,
PORGY
Oh, no, my brother, that ain't little Joe.
They is the monin' and the evenin' stars. An' just you
watch 'em rise and shine for this poor beggar.
(Crown grabs his arm)
Turn me loose.
(Shoots)
JIM
Made 'em!
CROWN
Roll up that bastard's sleeve.
(Porgy pulls in pot, laughs, rolls up sleeve)
Well, you got them damn dice, conjer them.
PORGY
Boy, boy, boy, I'm a crap shootin' idiot.
(Rolls)
SPORTING LIFE and JAKE
Crapped out!
MINGO
Rolled out!
(Robbins takes up bones, shoots)
ROBBINS
Nine to make, come nine!
(Throws again)
Read 'em. Nine spot! Nine right!
(Sweeps up money, Crown seizes his wrist)
CROWN
Touch that money an' meet yo' Gawd!
ROBBINS
Take yo' hand off me, you lousy houn'. Han' me that brick
behin' you.
(Pulls out of Crown's grasp)
CROWN
Nobody's gettin' away with Crown's money. I'm goin' kill
dat bastard!
(Lunges at Robbins)
MINGO
Looks like trouble to me; He made his nine, he made his
nine.
MARIA
There's gonna be a fight, look out!
Hold him back, Somebody hold them back,
Crown got murder in his eye!
Somebody hold them back!
PORGY
Crown's drunk, Robbins bes' take care, take care,
Robbins take care. Look out Robbins!
JIM
Dat's right.
Some one will sure get hurt.
SPORTING LIFE
Robbins ain't got a chance wid Crown, he's too big.
(Crown and Robbins fight fiercely as crowd holds Serena back)
SERENA
Oh, stop them! Don't let them fight!
I warned him, oh! Won't somebody stop them,
Won't somebody stop them now!
Oh, stop them! etc.
BESS
Someone will surely get hurt, so stop, won't somebody stop
them! Come on Crown, stop it. Oh! I'm so afraid!
I'm so afraid! Stop Crown! stop dem, make 'em cut it out!
MARIA
Ain't you men got better sense? Such fools! Liquor always
make trouble; better put a stop to this fighting, it's awful,
it's simply awful! Someone stop the fight, he will surely
kill dat man!
PORGY
Crown is drunk, there's goin' to be some trouble.
Robbins, take care!
Oh, Lawd have mercy an' don' let Crown hurt Robbins!
This is de worst fight yet.
MINGO
Look out, be careful!
Someone is gonna get hurt!
He'll kill 'im! He'll kill 'im! Crown's had too much
Crown is like a debbil when he's drinkin' like a fool.
Stop!
SPORTING LIFE
Crown cock-eyed drunk, he don' know what he's doin'.
Yes sir, Crown has had a little but too much.
Crown's had too much, Crown is like a debbil etc.
JAKE
This looks like a real fight, Robbins done for.
Oh, Crown is actin very bad, bad, bad.
Come on, let's stop dem now, come on, let's stop dem!
Dis Crown is like a debbil etc.
WOMEN
Oh, stop them, someone will get hurt!
Why must people fight?
Crown is a bad, bad bizness when he's drunk!
Why mus' they fight, won' somebody please
goin' an' stop dem now!
MEN
Crown is drunk! Robbins got no chance,
oh Robbins got no chance!
Crown is a bad, bad bizness when he's drunk!
Something mighty bad is boun' to happen!
Hold dem back! Won't some one hol' dem back
some one hol'dem back!
(Crown throws Robbins down. They fight fiercely; Crown jerks out his cotton hook.)
WOMEN
Can't anybody make Crown stop,
Can't anybody make Crown stop?
Lawd, please make dem stop!
MEN
Robbins is gone, Yes, suh!
He's got no chance! No suh!
Lawd, please make dem stop!
(Suddenly Crown stabs Robbins with cotton hook. Robbins falls dead. Serena screams)
MINGO
Jesus, he killed him!
(Serena flings herself upon the body)
BESS
Wake up an' hit it out. You ain't got no time to lose.
CROWN
What the matter?
BESS
You done kill Robbins and the police will be comin'.
(She shakes him to his senses. The entire crowd disperses in various directions.)
CROWN
Where you goin' hide? They know you an' I pulls together.
BESS
Some man always willin' to take care of Bess.
CROWN
Well, get this: whoever he is, he's temporary. I'm comin'
back when the hell dies down.
BESS
All right, only get out now. Here, take this.
(She takes money from stocking and gives it to him. He disappears. Bess runs - senses Sporting Life behind her)
That you, Sportin' Life?
SPORTING LIFE
Sure, and I's the only friend you got left.
BESS
For Gawd's sake, give me a touch of happy dust.
I shakin' so I can hardly stand. (He gives her powder)
SPORTING LIFE
Listen, I'll be goin' to New York soon. I'll hide you out and
take you with me. Why you an' me will make a swell team.
BESS
I ain't come to that yet.
SPORTING LIFE
Well, the cops ain't goin' find me here for no woman.
(Slinks out. Bess looks for shelter, knocks at doors. They are locked or slammed in her face.)
MARIA
You done bring trouble enough, get out before
the police come.
BESS
You wouldn't have a heart and let me in?
MARIA
Not till hell freeze!
BESS
Who live over there?
MARIA
That's Porgy, he ain't no use to your kind,
he's a cripple and a beggar.
BESS
Come on, Please let me in!
(Bess moves toward the gate. As she reaches it, police whistle sends her back. She turns back, frightened - Porgy's door opens. Porgy stretches out hand to her. Shuddering away from Serena and the body, she goes to Porgy's door. Porgy reaches for Bess' hand. She enters his room)
CURTAIN
ACT I
Scene 2
SERENA'S ROOM
WOMAN
Where is brudder Robbins?
ALL
He's a-gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.
WOMAN
I seen him in de mornin' wid his work clo'es on
ALL
But he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.
MAN
An' I seen him in the noontime straight and tall,
But death acome awalkin' in the evenin' fall
ALL
An' he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.
WOMAN
An' death touched Robbins wid a silver knife
ALL
An' he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.
MAN
An' he's sittin' in de garden by de tree of life.
ALL
An' he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.
Robbins is gone, gone, gone, etc.
SERENA
Who's dat acomin' climbin' up my steps?
MARIA
It's Porgy, an' Bess is ahelpin' him.
SERENA
What's dat woman comin' here for?
(Porgy and Bess enter. Bess advances toward bier, money in hand)
SERENA
I don't need yo' money for to bury my man.
BESS
Dis ain't Crown's money. Porgy give me my money now.
SERENA
All right, then. You can put it in the saucer.
(Bess puts money in the saucer.)
WOMAN
Come on, sister, come on, brudder,
Fill up the saucer till it overflow,
GROUP
Overflow, overflow.
Fill up de saucer till it overflow.
JAKE
Yes, my Jesus, overflow.
FIRST WOMAN
'Cause de Lawd will meet you,
Yes, de Lawd will meet you at the court-house do'-
ALL
Court-house do', court-house do',
De Lawd will meet you at the court-house do'.
JAKE
Yes, my Jesus, court-house do'.
PETER
How de saucer stand now, my sister?
CHORUS
Oh, he's gone, gone, gone, etc.
SERENA
Fourteen dollars an' fifty cent.
MARIA
Dat's a-comin' on, sister, you can bury him soon.
SERENA
What am I goin' to do if I ain' got the money?
PORGY
Gawd got plenty of money for de saucer.
SERENA
Bless de Lord!
PORGY
An' he goin' to soffen dese people heart for
to fill de saucer till he spill all over.
ALL
Amen, my Jesus!
PORGY
De Lawd will provide a grave for his chillen,
CLARA
Bless the Lord!
PORGY
An' he got comfort for de widder.
ALL
Oh, my Jesus!
PORGY
An' he goin' feed his fadderless chillen.
ALL
Yes Lawd, Truth Lawd!
PORGY
An' he goin' raise dis poor sinner up out of de grave.
JAKE
Allelujah!
PORGY
An' set him in de shinin' seat ob de righteous.
SERENA
Amen, my Jesus!
ALL
Overflow, overflow,
Oh fill up de saucer till it overflow,
Everybody helpin' now - sendin' our brudder to heaven,
Lawd, Oh Lawd, send down your angels!
Robbins is rising to heaven!
PORGY
Oh, sufferin' Jesus! You knows right from wrong.
You knows Robbins was a good man, an' now he's weary
an' he's goin' home. Reach down yo' lovin' han' an' take our
brudder to yo' bosom. Thank you, Lawd, Bless you Lawd.
Lawd will fill de saucer, over, overflow, Oh!
ALL
Overflow, overflow, Oh Lawd will fill de saucer,
Ev'rybody helpin' now etc.
Robbins is risin' to heaven! etc. -till it
overflow, Oh!
(Detective enters with policeman)
DETECTIVE
Um! A saucer-burial setup, I see. You're his widow?
SERENA
Yes, suh.
DETECTIVE
He did not leave any burial insurance?
SERENA
No, boss, he didn't leave nuttin'.
DETECTIVE
Well, see to it he's buried tomorrow.
(To Peter)
You killed Robbins an' I'm going to hang you for it!
LILY
He ain't don um!
PETER
What he say?
LILY
He say you kill Robbins.
DETECTIVE
Come along now!
PETER
'Fore Gawd, boss, I ain't never done um!
DETECTIVE
Who did it, then? You heard me, who did it?
PETER
Crown done it, boss. I done see him do it.
DETECTIVE
You're sure you saw him?
PETER
I swear to Gawd, boss, I was right there beside him.
DETECTIVE
(Laughs)
That's easy. I thought as much.
(To Porgy)
You. You saw it too. I don't want to have to put the law
on you. Look at me, you damn dummy!
PORGY
I don't know nuttin' 'bout it, boss.
DETECTIVE
That's your room in the corner, ain't it?
PORGY
Yes, boss, dat's my room.
DETECTIVE
The door opens on the court, don't it?
PORGY
Yes, boss, my door opens on the court.
DETECTIVE
An' yet you didn't see or hear anything?
PORGY
I don't know nuttin' 'bout it, boss. I been asleep
inside, and my door been closed.
DETECTIVE
You're a damn liar.
(Indicating Peter)
He saw the killing; take him along and lock him up
as a material witness.
POLICEMAN
Come along, uncle.
PETER
I ain't done it, boss.
MARIA
How long you goin' lock him up for?
POLICEMAN
Till we catch Crown.
PORGY
I reckon Crown done loose now in de palmetto thickets, an'
dere ain' no rope long enough to hang him.
DETECTIVE
Then the old man's out of luck. Remember, you've got to
bury that body tomorrow or the board of health will take
him an' turn him over to the medical students. Come on, get
the old man in the wagon.
PETER
I ain't never done nuttin', boss.
(They drag him off)
I swear to Gawd I ain' never done nuttin'.
(The sound of the wagon's bell fades away in the distance)
PORGY
I can't puzzle this thing out. Peter was a good man, but dat
lousy Crown was a killer and forever gettin' into trouble.
JAKE
That's the truth, brother.
PORGY
And there go Peter to be lock up like a thief.
JAKE
Like a thief.
PORGY
An' here be Robbins with his wife and his fadderless chillen,
an' Crown done gone his ways drinkin', gamblin', swearin',
to do the same thing over and over somewheres else.
ALL
Gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.
SERENA
My man's gone now,
Ain't no use alistenin'
For his tired foot-steps
Climbin' up de stairs. Ah!
Ole Man Sorrow
Come to keep me comp'ny,
Whisperin' beside me
When I say my prayers. Ah-
Ain't dat I min' workin'·
Work an' me is travellers
Journeyin' togedder
To de promise land.
But Ole Man Sorrow's
Marchin' all de way wid me
Tellin' me I'm ole now
Since I lose my man.
WOMENSERENA
Since I lose my man.
WOMENSERENA
Ole Man Sorrow sittin' by de fireplace,
Lyin' all night long by me in de bed.
Tellin' me de same thing mornin', noon an' eb'nin'
That I'm all alone now since my man is dead. Ah-
Since my man is dead!
ALL
Ah -
SERENA
Ah -
UNDERTAKER
(Entering)
How de saucer stan' now, my sister?
SERENA
There ain't but fifteen dollar.
UNDERTAKER
Hum! Can't bury him for fifteen dollar.
JAKE
He got to be buried tomorrow or the board of health will
take him and give him to the medical students.
UNDERTAKER
(Kindly)
Life is hard, brudder, but we all got to live.
It cos' money for to bury a grown man.
SERENA
Oh, for Gawd sake, bury him in the grave yard...Don't let
the students take him to cut up an' scatter. I goin' to work
on Monday, an' I swear to Gawd, I goin' pay you ev'ry cent.
UNDERTAKER
All right, sister, wit the box an' one carriage, it'll cos' me
more'n twenty-five, but I'll see you through.
PORGY
Jesus bless you, my brudder.
UNDERTAKER
You can all be ready tomorrow mornin'. It's a long trip to
the cemetery.
(He leaves)
GROUP
Oh, he's gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone
BESS
(Suddenly jumping up)
Oh, the train is at the station
An' you better get on board
'Cause it's leavin' today,
ALL
Leavin' today, leavin' today.
BESS
Oh, the train is at the station
An' you better get on board,
'Cause it's leavin' today,
'An it's headin' for The Promise Lan'.
ALL
Headin' for the Promise' Lan'.
BESS
Oh, we're leavin' for the Promise Lan'
Leavin' for the Promise' Lan'.
BESS AND ALL
Keep that drivin' wheel arollin', rollin'
Let it roll. . .
Until we meet our brudder in the Promise' Lan'.
BESS
Oh, I got my ticket ready
an' de time is gettin' short
'Cause we're leavin' today,
BESS AND ALL
Leavin' today, leavin' today.
BESS
Oh, I got my ticket ready
an' de time is gettin' short
'Cause we're leavin' today,
an' we're headed for the Promise Lan'.
ALL
...headed for the Promise Lan'
BESS
Oh, we're leavin' for the Promise Lan'
Leavin' for the Promise' Lan'
BESS AND ALL
Keep that drivin' wheel arollin', rollin`
Let it roll...
Until we meet our brudder in the Promise' Lan'.
ALL
Oh, we're leavin' for the Promise' Lan'
an' you better get on board
all you sinners, oh, you better get on board.
'Cause we're leavin' etc..
'Cause we're leavin' for the Lan', Oh!
Keep that drivin' wheel arollin', rollin'
'til we meet our brudder in the Promise' Lan'.
CURTAIN
ACT TWO
Scene 1
CATFISH ROW
(Jake and fishermen repair netting, swaying to the rhythm of a rowing song.)
JAKE
Oh, I'm agoin' out to the Blackfish banks
No matter what de wedder say,
An' when I say I'm goin' I means goin'
An' I'm leavin' at de break o' day.
JAKE AND MEN
It take a long pull to get there, huh!
It take a long pull to get there, huh!
It take a long pull to get there,
But I'll anchor in the Promise' Lan'
In de Promise' Lan'.
JAKE
An' Lawdy, if I meet Mister Hurricane
an' Hurricane tell me no
I'll take ole Mister Hurricane by the pants
an' I'll throw him in de jailhouse do'.
JAKE AND MEN
It take a long pull to get there, huh!
It take a long pull to get there, huh!
It take a long pull to get there,
But I'll anchor in the Promise' Lan'.
In de Promise' Lan'.
JAKE
I got a blister on my settin' down place
I got a blister in my han'
But I'm goin' row dis little boat, trust me Gawd,
Till I anchor in de Promise' Lan'.
JAKE AND MEN
It takes a long pull to get there, huh!
It takes a long pull to get there, huh!
It takes a long pull to get there,
But I'll anchor in de Promise' Lan'.
ANNIE
Mus' be you mens forgot about de picnic. Ain' you knows
dat de p'rade start up de block at ten o'clock?
JAKE
That's right, mens. Turn out tomorrow mornin' an' we'll
push de Seagull clean to de Blackfish banks 'fore we
wet de anchor.
CLARA
Jake, you ain't plannin' to take de Seagull to de Blackfish
banks, is you? It's time for de September storms.
JAKE
How you think dat boy goin' get de college education, if I
don' work hard an' make money?
PORGY
(At window, laughing)
Oh, I got plenty o' nuttin',
An' nuttin's plenty fo' me.
I got no car, got no mule, I got no misery.
De folks wid plenty o' plenty
Got a lock on dey door.
'Fraid somebody's agoin' to rob 'em
While dey's out amakin' more.
What for?
I got no lock on de door,
(Dat's no way to be)
Dey can steal de rug from de floor..
Dat's okeh wid me,
'Cause de things dat I prize
Like de stars in de skies
All are free.
Oh, I got plenty o' nuttin',
An' nuttin's plenty fo' me,
I got my gal, got my song,
Got Hebben de whole day long!
No use complainin'!
Got my gal, got my Lawd, got my song.
WOMEN
Porgy change since dat woman come to live with he.
SERENA
How he change!
ALL
He ain't cross with chillen no more, an' ain't you hear how
he an' Bess all de time singin' in their room?
MARIA
I tells you dat cripple's happy now.
CHORUS
Happy.
PORGY
I got plenty o'nuttin',
An' nuttin's plenty fo' me.
I got de sun, got de moon, got de deep blue sea.
De folks wid plenty o' plenty,
Got to pray all de day.
Seems wid plenty you sure got to worry
How to keep de debble away, away.
I ain't afrettin' 'bout hell
Till de time arrive.
Never worry long as I'm well,
Never one to strive to be good, to be bad,
What de hell, I is glad I's alive.
Oh, I got plenty o' nuttin'
An' nuttin's plenty fo' me.
I got my gal, got my song,
Got Hebben de whole day long.
No use complainin',
Got my gal, got my Lawd, got my song!
CHORUS
Got his gal, got his Lawd.
MARIA
Lissen there, what I tells you.
SERENA
Go 'long with you, dat woman ain't de kin'
for to make a cripple happy.
It take a killer like Crown to hol' her down.
SPORTING LIFE
(saunters over to Maria's table)
(Maria seizes his hand and blows white powder from his palm.)
What you t'ink you doin'?
Dat stuff cos' money.
MARIA
Lissen here, I ain' say nuttin',
no matter how drunk you get dese boys
roun' here on rotgut whiskey,
but nobody ain' goin peddle happy dust 'roun' my shop.
Does you hear what I say?
SPORTING LIFE
Oh, come on now, ole lady,
le's you an' me be fren'.
MARIA
(Grabs Sporting Life by the throat and picks up carving knife.)
Frien' wid you low-life, hell, no!
(Threatening him)
I hates yo' struttin' style,
Yes sir, and yo' god damn silly smile
an' yo' ten cent di'mons an' yo' fi'cent butts.
Oh, I hates yo' guts.
Somebody's got to carve you up to set these people free
An' de writin' on the wall says it's a goin' to be me.
Some night when you is full of gin an'don't know I's about,
I'm goìn' to take you by de tail an' turn you inside out.
Frien wid you, low-life! hell, no!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! I's figgerin to break yo' bones
Yes sir, one by one.
An' then I's goin' to carve you up an' hang you in de sun.
I'll feed yo' meat to buzzards an' give'em belly aches.
An' take yo' bones to Kittiwah to pizen rattlesnakes,
Frien's wid you, low-life?
I fears I mus' decline!
I sooner cuts mah own throat 'fore I calls you a frien' of mine!
(Sporting Life runs off. Lawyer Frazier enters. Maria sees him and follows after him)
MARIA
Mornin', Lawyer, lookin' for somebody?
FRAZIER
Porgy live here, don't he?
MARIA
He sho' do, right over there's his room.
Here, Porgy, here's Lawyer Frazier to see you.
FRAZIER
Mornin', Porgy.
PORGY
Mornin', Lawyer.
FRAZIER
Ain't that Crown's Bess in yo' room?
PORGY
No, sir, she ain't, she's Porgy's Bess..
FRAZIER
Ah ha, ah ha, Porgy's Bess, eh? Den I guess she'll be
wantin' divorce.
PORGY
Huh?
FRAZIER
Ef de woman livin' wid you now, she got to have divorce
from Crown or else it ain't legal.
(Takes doccument and shows it to Porgy)
PORGY
How much dat t'ing cost?
FRAZIER
One dollar. Dat is, if there ain' no complication.
PORGY
Bess, you likes to have divorce?
BESS
What you think, Porgy?
PORGY
I'm agoin' to buy you a divorce.
(Hands Frazier money)
FRAZIER
Wait a minute, it ain't legal yet.
Yo' name?
ALL
Bess!
FRAZIER
Yo' age?
BESS
Twenty year.
ALL
Lord, Lord, listen what she say.
Dat girl's thirty if she's a day!
FRAZIER
You desire to be divorce from dat man Crown?
ALL
Sho' she do, sho' she do,
Yes suh, yes suh, sho' she do!
FRAZIER
I'm askin' you.
BESS
Yes, boss, dat's true.
FRAZIER
Address the court a "Yo' honor."
ALL
Yes, yo' honor. Yes, yo' honor.
Yes, yo' honor. Yes, yo' honor.
FRAZIER
When was you an' Crown marry?
BESS
I don't rightly remember, yo' honor.
FRAZIER
One yeah, five yeah, ten yeah, what?
LILY
Dat gal ain' never marry!
FRAZIER
Ah, dat's a complication!
ALL
Dat's a complication. Dat's a complication, Lord, Lord --
ONE MAN
Dat is a complication.
PORGY
You can't sell her divorce, gimme back my dollah!
(Everybody laughs)
FRAZIER
'Course I sells divorce. You got no right to laugh, but it
take expert to divorce woman what ain't marry, an' it cos'
you, ahem, a dollar an' a half.
BESS
Don't pay him, Porgy. Don't let him take you in.
FRAZIER
All right, go on livin' in sin.
(Porgy counts out money and gives it to Frazier, who signs and seals paper and hands it to Bess)
Good day to you, Missis Porgy. Only dollar an' a half to
change from woman to lady.
ALL
Woman to lady, woman to lady, Lord, Lord, woman to lady!
SCIPIO
Dey's a Buckra comin'.
ANNIE
What he say?
SERENA
W'ite gen'man.
ARCHDALE
(Entering the courtyard)
Boy. Come here, boy!
I'm looking for a man by the name of Porgy.
Which is his room?
Come, don't you know Porgy?
SCIPIO
No, suh.
ARCHDALE
(goes to Clara)
I'm looking for a man named Porgy;
Can you direct me to his room?
CLARA
Anybody here know a man name Porgy?
ARCHDALE
Come. I'm a friend of his, Mister Archdale
I have good news for him.
SERENA
Go long and wake Porgy. Can't you tell
folks when you see em?
CLARA
Oh you mean Porgy!
I ain' understan' what name you say.
MINGO
Oh, de gen'man mean Porgy.
JAKE
Dat's him, boss, dat's ole Porgy. Glad to serve you boss.
CLARA
Wake up Porgy, a gen'man come to see you.
PORGY
How you does, boss?
ARCHDALE
Good morning. I've come to tell you about your friend,
Peter, who got locked up on account of the Robbins murder
PORGY
How you come to care, boss?
ARCHDALE
His folks used to belong to my fam'ly
and I just heard he was in trouble.
PORGY
He sho' got plenty of trouble.
ARCHDALE
Well, you can tell all of Peter's friends
I'll go his bond. He'll soon be back home again.
PORGY
Thank you, boss. Gawd bless you, boss, bless you, bless you!
FRAZIER
Good mornin' Mister Archdale.
ARCHDALE
Good morning Frazier, hope you're not selling any more
divorces.
PORGY
He jus' made a lady out of Bess for a dollar an' a half.
ARCHDALE
(reading)
I, Simon Frazier, hereby divorce Bess an Crown, for the
charge of one dollar an' fifty cents cash, signed Simon
Frazier.... Look here, Frazier, this divorce mill must close
or I'll have to put you in jail. I won't report you this time.
Good morning.
FRAZIER
Gawd bless you, boss. Gawd bless you.
PORGY
Good mornin', Mister Archdale.
(At this point o great bird flies low, frightening evervbody)
PORGY
Look out, dat's a buzzard!
CHORUS
Drive um off, don't let um light, chase away dat buzzard'
ARCHDALE
What is it, what's the matter?
PORGY
Boss, dat bird mean trouble.
Once de buzzard fold his wing an' light over yo' house,
all yo' happiness done dead.
Buzzard keep on flyin' over, take along yo' shadow.
Ain' nobody dead dis mornin'
Livin's jus' begun.
Two is strong where one is feeble;
man an' woman livin', workin',
Sharin' grief an' sharin' laughter,
An' love like Augus' sun.
Trouble, is dat you over yonder
lookin' lean an' hungry?
Don' you let dat buzzard keep you
hangin' round my do'.
Ain' you heard de news this mornin'?
Step out, brudder, hit de gravel;
Porgy who you used to feed on,
Don' live here no mo'
Ha, ha, ha, ha! Buzzard, on yo' way!
Ole age, what is you anyhow,
nuttin' but bein' lonely.
Pack yo' things an' fly from here,
Carry grief an' pain.
Dere's two folks livin' in dis shelter
Eatin', sleepin', singin', prayin'.
Ain' no such thing as loneliness.
An' Porgy's young again.
PORGY AND CHORUS
Buzzard, keep on flyin',
Porgy's young again.
(All move off to their various rooms, leaving Bess alone. Sporting Life enters, sneaks up to Bess)
SPORTING LIFE
'Lo, Bess, goin' to picnic?
BESS
No, guess I'll stay home.
SPORTING LIFE
Picnics is all right for these small town suckers, but we is use
to the high life, you know. You an' me, we understands each
other. I can't see for the life of me what you is hangin' roun'
this place for; why, with your looks, Bess, an' your way with
the boys, there's big money for you, an' me in New York.
BESS
I can't remember ever meetin' a nothin' what I likes less than
I does you.
SPORTING LIFE
Oh, come on, now, how about a little touch of happy dus'
for old time sake?
BESS
I's through with that stuff!
SPORTING LIFE
Come on, give me yo' han'.
(Porgy opens door and listens unobserved)
BESS
I tells you, I's through!
SPORTING LIFE
Just a pinch, not enough to hurt a flea.
BESS
No, no, I done give up dope.
SPORTING LIFE
Tell that to somebody else, nobody ever gave up happy dus'.
(Porgy reaches out and seizes Sporting Life's wrist)
Leggo, you dam' cripple! Gawd, what a grip for
a piece of a man!
PORGY
Sportin' Life, you keep away from my woman, or I'll break
yo' damn neck!
SPORTING LIFE
I'd like to see a lousy cripple, like you, break my neck.
PORGY
If I get my hands on you once more, you'll see quick enough.
BESS
Go 'long now.
SPORTING LIFE
All right, yo' men frien's come an' they go, but remember
ole Sportin' Life an' de happy dus' here all along.
PORGY
Get out, you rat, you louse, you buzzard!
(Sporting Life scuttles off. Jake and Clara come out dressed for the picnic)
JAKE
Honey, we sure goin' strut our stuff today.
Be sure to come 'long to de picnic, Bess.
(They leave. Bess and Porgy are left alone)
PORGY
Bess, you is my woman now, you is, you is!
An' you mus' laugh an' sing an' dance for two instead of one.
Want no wrinkle on yo' brow, no-how.
Because de sorrow of de past is all done done.
Oh, Bess, my Bess,
De real happiness is jes' begun.
BESS
Porgy, I's yo' woman now, I is, I is!
An' I ain' never goin' nowhere 'less you shares de fun.
Dere's no wrinkle on my brow, no how,
But I ain' goin'! You hear me sayin',
If you ain' goin', wid you I'm stayin'.
Porgy, I's yo' woman now, I's yours forever
Mornin' time an' evenin time an summer time
an' winter time.
PORGY
Mornin' time an' evenin' time an summer time
an' winter time, Bess, you got yo' man.
PORGY
Bess, you is my woman now an' forever.
Dis life is jes' begun.
Bess, we two is one now an' forever.
Oh, Bess, don' min' dose women.
You got yo' Porgy, you loves yo' Porgy
I knows you means it, I seen it in yo' eyes, Bess.
We'll go swingin' through de years a-singin'
Hmmm...Mornin' time an' evenin' time an' summer time
an' winter time.
My Bess, my Bess, from dis minute I'm tellin' you,
I keep dis vow;
Oh, my Bessie, we's happy now,
We is one now.
BESS
Porgy, I's yo woman now, I is, I is!
An' I ain' never goin' nowhere
'Less you shares de fun.
Dere's no wrinkle on my brow, no how
But I ain' goin'! You hear me sayin',
If you ain' goin', wid you I'm stayin'.
Porgy, I's yo woman now! I's yours forever.
Mornin' time an' evenin' time an' summer time an' winter
time, hmmmmmm.
Oh, my Porgy, my man Porgy,
From dis minute I'm tellin' you, I keep dis vow;
Porgy, I's yo' woman now.
(Catfish Row crowd comes out attired in their lodge regalia, singing and dancing, ready for the picnic.)
ALL
Oh, I can't sit down.
Got to keep agoin' like de flowin' of a song.
Oh, I can't sit down
Guess I'll take my honey an' her sunny smile along.
Today I is gay an' I's free
Jes' abubblin', nothin'troublin' me.
Oh, I's gwine to town
I can't sit down.
Happy feelin', in my bones astealin'
No concealin' dat it's picnic day.
Sho's is dandy, got de licker handy.
Me an' Mandy, we is on de way
'Cause dis is picnic day.
Oh I can't sit down
Got to keep ajumpin' to de thumpin' of de drum!
Oh, I can't sit down.
Full of locomotion like an ocean full of rum!
Today I is gay an' I's free.
Jes' abubblin', nothin' troublin' me!
Oh, I's gwine to town
I can't, jes' can't, sit down!
(Crowd leaves. Maria goes to Bess)
MARIA
What's de matter wid you, sister? Ain't you know you goin'
be late for de picnic?
BESS
I stayin' with porgy.
MARIA
Sho' you goin'. Ev'rybody goin'. You got to help me wid my
basket. Come now, where's yo' hat?
(Gets her hat from Porgy's room)
What's dis talk about stayin' home when ev'rybody goin' to
de picnic?
BESS
Porgy, I hates to go an' leave you all alone.
PORGY
Bess, my honey, I so glad to have you go, I been wantin'
you to be so happy here in Catfish Row.
BESS
Yes, Porgy, I know.
PORGY
Go, chile, go.
MARIA
Come on, chile! Get into dese clo'es. You stay roun' here
an' you'll die of de lonesome blues.
Come on now, hurry up. We'll be late for dat boat.
BESS
Goodbye, Porgy.
PORGY
Goodbye, honey.
(Maria and Bess leave)
BESS
Goodbye, Porgy goodbye.
PORGY
Oh, I got plenty o' nuttin',
An' nuttin's plenty fo' me,
I got my gal, got my Lawd, got Hebben de whole day long.
Got my gal, got my Lawd, got my song!
CURTAIN
ACT II
Scene 2
KITTIWAH ISLAND
(General gaiety-all well-fed-some few, well-liquored. Some dancing.)
ALL
I ain' got no shame doin' what I like to do!
I ain' got no shame doin' what I like to do!
Sun ain' got no shame; moon ain' got no shame.
So I ain' got no shame, doin' what I like to do!!
So I ain' got no shame, doin' what I like to do!!
Ha da da, Ha da da, etc.
SPORTING LIFE
It ain't necessarily so,
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
It ain't necessarily so.
SPORTING LIFE
De t'ings dat yo' li'ble
To read in de Bible,
It ain't necessarily so.
Li'l David was small, but oh my!
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
Li'I David was small, but oh my!
SPORTING LIFE
He fought big Goliath
Who lay down an' dieth,
Li'l David was small, but oh my!
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
Wadoo-Zim bam boodle-oo,
Hoodle ah da wa da - Scatty wah.
SPORTING LIFE
Yeah! Oh, Jonah, he lived in de whale,
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
Oh, Jonah, he lived in de whale
SPORTING LIFE
Fo' he made his home in
Dat fish's abdomen.
Oh, Jonah, he lived in de whale.
Li'l Moses was found in a stream.
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
Li'l Moses was found in a stream
SPORTING LIFE
He floated on water
Till Ole Pharaoh's daughter
She fished him, she says, from dat stream.
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
Wa-dooZim bam boodle-oo,
Hoodle ah da wa - Scatty wah.
SPORTING LIFE
Yeah! It ain't necessarily so,
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
It ain't necessarily so,
SPORTING LIFE
Dey tell all you chillun
De debble's a villun
But 'tain't necessarily so.
To get into Hebben,
Don' snap for a sebben!
Live clean. Look at me! Don' have no fault.
Oh, I takes dat gospel
Whenever it's pos'ble,
But wid a grain of salt.
Methus'lah lived nine hundred years,
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
Methus'lah lived nine hundred years,
SPORTING LIFE
Say, but who calls dat livin'
When no gal'll give in
To no man what's nine hundred years?
I'm preachin' dis sermon to show
It ain't nessa, ain't nessa, ain't nessa, ain't nessa
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
Ain't necessarily so.
SPORTING LIFE AND CHORUS
I'm preachin' dis sermon to show
It ain't nessa, ain't nessa, ain't nessa, ain't nessa
Ain't necessarily so.
SERENA
(breaking into circle)
Shame on all you sinners.
You call yourselves Church-members,
you goes on a decent picnic of
The Sons an' Daughters of Repent Ye Saith the Lord.
An' when the Christians turn their back
you start behavin' like Sodom an' Gomorrah.
It's a Gawd's wonder de Lord don't sen' His livin' fire
to burn you offen de face of de earth.
An you, Jake, always so loudmouth at church-meeting,
Tell me when did you start workin' for de devil?
Take them baskets an' get on de boat.
all you wicked chillen of de devil!
(Steamboat whistle sounds in the distance)
Hear what I tell you, It's high time you was goin'.
(Calls to Maria)
You bes' hurry up, you goin' miss dat boat.
MARIA
If dat boat go without me,
there's gonna be some blue lightning
in Catfish Row when I gets home.
(Boat whistles)
Hey there! Hold yo' holt. I's acomin!
(Boat whistles)
Hurry up, Bess! Dat boat's gettin' de whoopin' cough.
(Bess enters, hurrying after Maria)
CROWN
(calls from thicket)
Bess!
BESS
Crown!
CROWN
You know very well dis Crown.
I seen you lan' an' I been
waitin' all day for see you.
I mos' dead on this damn island.
BESS
You ain' looks mos' dead, you bigger'n ever.
CROWN
Oh, I got plenty to eat, bird egg, oyster an' such.
But I mos' dead of the lonesome
wid not one Gawd'person to swap a word wid.
Lord! I's glad you come.
BESS
I can't stay, Crown, or de boat'll go without me.
CROWN
Damn dat boat! Got any happy dus' wid you?
BESS
No, Crown, no mo' happy dus'.
I done give up dope, an' besides, Crown,
I got something for to tell you.
CROWN
You bes'lissen to what I gots to tell you.
I waitin' here till de cotton begin comin' in.
Den libbin 'll be easy.
Johnny'll hide you an' me on de ribber boat
fur as Savannah. Who you libbin' wíd now?
BESS
I livin' wid de cripple Porgy.
CROWN
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
You sho'got funny tas' in men, but dat's yo' business.
I ain' care who you takes up wid while I's away.
But membuh, what I tol' you. He's temporary.
I reckon it'll be just a couple ob weeks now 'fore I comes for you.
BESS
Crown, I got something to tell you.
CROWN
What dat?
BESS
I...I livin' wid Porgy now, an' I livin' decent.
CROWN
You hear what I tol' you,
I say in a couple ob weeks I's comin' for you,
an' you is goin' tote fair, lessen you wants to meet yo' Crowd
you gets dat?
(Boot whistles)
BESS
Take yo' han's off me, I goin' miss dat boat.
CROWN
You tellin' me dat you'd rather have dat cripple dan Crown?
BESS
It's like dis, Crown, I's the only woman Porgy ever had,
an' I's thinkin' now,
how it will be tonight
when all these others gets 'em go back to Catfish Row.
He'll be sittin' an' watchin' the big front gate,
acountin' 'em off, waitin' for Bess.
An' when the las' woman goes home to her man
an' I ain' there. . .
(Crown laughs)
Lemme go, Crown! You can get plenty other women.
CROWN
What I wants wid other woman?
I gots a woman an' dat's you, see!
BESS
Oh... What you want wid Bess?
She's gettin' ole now;
Take a fine young gal
For to satisfy Crown.
Look at this chest
An' look at these arms you got.
You know how it always been with me,
These five years I been yo' woman,
You could kick me in the street,
Then when you wanted me back,
You could whistle, an' there I was
Back again, lickin' yo' hand.
There's plenty better lookin' gal than Bess.
Can' you see, I'm with Porgy,
Now and forever
I am his woman, he would die without me.
Oh, Crown, won't you let me go to my man, to my man.
He is a cripple an' needs my love, all my love.
What you want wid Bess? Oh, let me go to my man. . .
CROWN
What I wants wid other woman,
I gots a woman, yes,
An' dat is you, yes, dat is you, yes,
I need you now an' you're mine jus' as long as I want you.
No cripple goin' take my woman from me.
You got a man tonight an' that is Crown, yes, Crown, yes
Crown.
You're my woman, Bess, I'm tellin' you, now I'm your man.
(Pressing her very close)
BESS
What you want with Bess?
(Boat whistles)
Lemme go, Crown dat boat, it's goin' wiout me!
CROWN
You ain't goin' nowhere!
BESS
(Weakening)
Take yo' hands off me, I say, yo' hands, yo' hands, yo hands.
(Crown kisses her passionately)
CROWN
I knows you' ain' change - wid you and me it always be the
same. Git in dat thicket.
(Bess backs into woods; Crown follows.)
CURTAIN
ACT II
Scene 3
CATFISH ROW
The cocrrt before dawn. Bells herald the new day.
Fishermen loll about sleepily.
JAKE
Honey, dat's all de breakfast I got time for. It's gettin' late,
the weather's fine. I'm on my way. Come on, you fishermens,
it's time to trabble.
NELSON
All right, Jake.
JIM
All ready, Jake, we bes' be off.
MARIA
Goodbye, boys.
JAKE
Goodbye, Maria.
NELSON
It looks to me like it goin' storm today.
JAKE
Don't you know dat ain' de way to talk 'fore my woman.
So long, Clara, gangway for de Sea Gull.
(Kisses Clara)
JAKE AND MEN
It take a long pull to get there, huh!
It take a long pull to get there, huh!
It take a long pull to get there, but
I'll anchor in de Promise' Lan'
In de Promise' Lan'.
(Group continues singing as they go off)
BESS
(Deliriously...in Porgy's room)
Take yo' han's off me, I say. Yo' han's, yo' han's, yo' han's!
SERENA
She still out of her head.
BESS
Eighteen mile to Kittiwah, eighteen mile to trabble,
Lord, what a long road, ain' nobody to help me.
Ain' nobody to help me!
MARIA
(seeing Peter enter courtyard)
Well, if it ain' ole Peter!
PETER
De white folks put me in
an' de white folks take me out
an' I ain' know yet what I done,
what I done, done, done. . .
BESS
Oh, there's a rattlesnake in dem bushes
Oh, Lord, ain' nobody to help me.
PETER
What's de matter?
MARIA
Porgy woman very sick more'n a week now;
she gone to the picnic ain' get los' in de jungle.
She ain' come home for two day.
PORGY
(Comes out)
I think dat maybe she goin' to sleep now; a whole week gone
now an' she ain' no better. Hello, Peter, welcome back home,
ole frien'.
PETER
I advise you to send her to de white folks hospital.
PORGY
Oh, Gawd, don' let 'em take Bess to the hospital!
SERENA
Hospital! Mus' be you is all forget how I pray Clara' baby
out of the convulsions. There ain' never been a sick person
or corpse in Catfish Row dat I has refused my prayers.
PORGY
Dat's right, sistuh, you pray over her.
SERENA
(kneeling)
Oh, doctor Jesus, who done trouble de water in de Sea of Gallerie.
PORGY
Amen!
SERENA
An' likewise who done cas' de devil out of de afflicted time
an' time again.
PORGY
Time an' time again.
PETER
Oh, my Jesus!
SERENA
Oh, doctor Jesus, what make you ain' lay yo' han' on dis po'
sister head?
LILY
Oh, my father!
SERENA
An' chase de devil out of her down a steep place into de sea
like you used to do time an' time again.
PORGY
Time an' time again. Oh, my Jesus!
SERENA
Lif' dis po' cripple up out of de dus'!
PORGY
Allelujah!
SERENA
An' lif' up his woman an' make her well time an' time again,
an' save us all for Jesus sake, Amen.
PORGY AND PETER
Amen.
SERENA
All right. Now, Porgy, Doctor Jesus done take de case.
By five o'clock dat woman goin' be well.
(It is now full morning and Catfish Row is full of activity with street vendors calling.)
STRAWBERRY WOMAN
Oh dey's so fresh an' fine
An' dey's jus' off de vine
Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries,
Oh, dey's so fresh an' fine
An' dey's just off de vine,
Strawberries, strawberries, strawberries,
PETER
Here come de honey man,
Yes mam, this de honey man.
WOMAN
Oh, honey man, honey man!
PETER
(Not hearing her, keeps walking)
You got honey in the comb.
Yes mam, I got honey in the comb.
WOMAN
Hey there! I wants some honey!
PETER
An' is yo' honey cheap?
ANNIE
Peter, honey man!
PETER
Yes mam, my honey very cheap,
here come de honey man.
ANNIE
Gawd amighty, I's jus' wasting my breath on you,
'Cause you ain' never goin' to hear no how.
CRAB MAN
I'm talkin' about devil crabs
1'm talkin' about devil crabs
I'm talkin' about de food I sells
She crab, she crab.
PORGY
On yo' way, brother.
CRAB MAN
Devil crab!
MARIA
Hey, crab man!
CRAB MAN
I'm talkin' about de food I sells
When I done talkin' about de food I sells
Talkin' about devil crab.
(Maria picks crab, counts out money, pays Crab mon,
who then leaves.)
Now I's talkin' about yo' pocketbook
I'm talkin' about devil crabs, she crab, she crab,
Devil crab, I'm talkin' about de food I sells.
(Bell chimes five times. - Looks at Porgy)
PORGY
Now de time, oh Gawd, now de time.
BESS
(Within the shanty)
Porgy, Porgy, dat you there, ain' it?
PORGY
Thank Gawd, thank Gawd!
(Bess appears in the doorway)
BESS
I lonesome here all by myself, it's hot in there, let me sit
here with you in the cool.
PORGY
Oh, Bess! Bess!
BESS
I been sick, ain't I?
PORGY
You been very sick. But now I got you back, Bess.
BESS
How long I been sick?
PORGY
Over a week now. You come back from Kittiwah with eye
like fireball, an' Maria get you into bed, an' you ain' know me.
(She sobs)
What de matter, Bess?
PORGY
I guess I ain' know nuttin' wid de fever, or I ain' come back
at all.
PORGY
Dat's all right Honey, don't you worry, Honey, I know you
been with Crown.
BESS
How you know?
PORGY
Gawd give cripple to understan' many things he ain' give
strong men.
BESS
You ain' want me to go 'way?
PORGY
No, no, I ain' want you to go. How things stan' between
you an' Crown?
BESS
He's comin' for me when de cotton come to town.
PORGY
You goin'?
BESS
I tell 'im, yes.
Porgy, Gawd, man!
Why yo' muscle pull up like that?
It make me afraid.
PORGY
You ain' got nuttin' to be afraid of;
I ain' try to keep no woman what don't want to stay.
If you wants to go to Crown, Dat's for you to say.
BESS
I wants to stay here,
But I ain't worthy.
You is too decent to understan'.
For when I see him he hypnotize me.
When he take hold of me with his hot hand.
Someday I know he's coming back to call me.
He's goin' to handle me an' hold me so.
It's goin' to be like dyin', Porgy, deep inside me -
But when he calls, I know I have to go.
PORGY
If dere warn't no Crown, Bess, if dere was only jus' you an'
Porgy, what den?
BESS
I loves you, Porgy,
Don' let him take me,
Don' let him handle me an' drive me mad.
If you kin keep me,
I wants to stay here wid you forever,
An' I'd be glad.
PORGY
There, there, Bess, you don' need to be afraid no mo',
You's picked up happiness and laid yo' worries down.
You goin' to live easy, you goin' to live high.
You goin' to outshine every woman in dis town.
An' remember, when Crown come that's my business, Bess!
BESS
I loves you, Porgy,
Don' let him take me
Don' let him handle me
With his hot han'
If you kin keep me
I wants to stay here wid you forever.
I got my man.
PORGY
What you think I is, anyway,
To let dat dirty houn' dog steal my woman?
If you wants to stay wid Porgy, you goin' stay.
You got a home now, Honey, an' you got love.
So no mo' cryin', can't you understan'?
You goin' to go about yo' business, singin' 'cause
You got Porgy, you got a man.
(Clara enters)
MARIA
Why you been out on that wharf so long, Clara?
You got no cause to worry 'bout yo' man.
Dis goin' be a fine dày.
CLARA
I never see de water look so black.
It sits there waitin', holdin' its breath,
list'nin' for dat hurricane bell.
MARIA
Hurricane bell! Lawd chile, dere ain' goin' be no hurricane.
I's gettin' ole now an' I ain' hear dat bell
but fo' time in my life.
Go 'long to de baby now an' quiet down.
(The wind rises. Heads appear at windows and faces show terror. People pass, shouting warnings. The deep ominous clang of a bell is heard. It keeps striking. Wind increases- clouds deepen - People from court move about in terror.)
CLARA
(Falling in a faint)
Jake! Jake!
CURTAIN
ACT II
Scene 4
SERENA'S ROOM. STORM.
(Everyone huddles in fear from the tremendous storm outside. They try to drown out the storm with singing.)
SECOND SOPRANO SOL
On, Doctor Jesus, look down on me wit' pity.
Put Yo' lovin' arms thru de roof of dis house
an' lif' me to Yo' bosom till de storm is over.
Oh, Doctor Jesus, look down on me
Why is You angry wit' dis po' sinner?
Why is You cryin' dose tears,
an' mumblin' dat thunder
When I ain' got nuthin' but rev'rence in me heart for you,
Lawd.
Oh, Doctor Jesus, look down on me.
If You is lookin' down on me wit' disfavor
I ain' know what to do
'cause if worshippin' You ain' stoppin' dose tears an' dat
thunder,
Lawd, I ain' know jes' what to do, Lawd.
Oh, Doctor Jesus, look down on me I's beseechin' You
to look down on me wit' pity
an' I's hopin' You's about to put Yo' lovin' arms
thru de roof of dis house an lif' me to Yo' bosom, Amen...
TENOR SOLO
Oh, Lawd above, we knows You can destroy,
But we also knows You can raise,
an' we's beseechin' You to raise Yo' fallen chillen.
Oh, Lawd above, You got de pow'r to feed us,
You got the pow'r to clothe us,
an' You can lead us out of de wilderness.
Yes Lawd, but we's not hungry now, an' we's got clo'es,
but we is askin' You to lead us out of de wilderness.
Oh, Lawd above, lead us out of de wilderness, into de
Golden Meadows an' de Silvery Streams.
Oh, Lawd above, we know You can destroy,
but we knows You can raise, too,
an' we's askin' You for Yo' assistance in dis time of storm;
an' thunder an' lightnin'.
Oh, Lawd above, we warrants Yo' assistance
an' we's beseechin' You to raise Yo' fallen chillen, Amen...
FIRST SOPRANO SOLO
Oh, Hev'nly Father, hab mercy on we,
look down wit' grace an' sympathy,
You whose po'chillen we is, show we how
You can protect Yo'chillen when dey is deserving.
Oh, Hev'nly Father, hab mercy on we
when de clouds an' de storms start raisin' hell upon dis earth.
We knows dat You can fix' em,
'cause You is de great fixer
Oh my Father fix dat Satan,
Tie up his hands an' his feet
An' t'row him back where he belong.
Oh, Hev'nly Father, hab mercy on we, 'cause we is Yo'
deservin' chillen. Amen.
Oh, Hev'nly Father, hab mercy on we wit' grace an ' sympathy
an' understandin' of which we knows You got plenty.
Oh, my Lawd, Amen.
ALTO SOLO
Professor Jesus, teach Yo' ignorant chillen
how to combat de fires an' torments
of dat black visitation from below.
We leans on You Professor Jesus, what die on Calbery.
Dispense Yo' blessings on Yo' needful
An' Yo' grateful followers.
Cast away dose black clouds an' de darkness
an' show we de golden sunshine gleaming once again.
Professor Jesus, teach yo' ignorant chillen, cast away dose
black clouds etc.,
An' show we de golden sunshine
Shin' on de fields an' de meadows
an' de mountains an' de plains, Amen.
FIRST BASS SOLO
Oh, Captain Jesus, find it in Yo' heart to save us,
I's given You six chillen to add to Yo' legions,
my po' wife is now wid You three year dis October,
Oh, Captain Jesus, but we is seven left to tell
Dat Satan man where he get off at.
We has all lived sweetly an' sweetly
We is willin' to die for You.
Oh, Captain Jesus, we knows how sweetly You treats
Yo' soldiers, when You opens the gates for dem.
Oh, Captain Jesus, find it in Yo' heart
To save us worshippers
'Cause there is no truer followers of de Lawd
Den what's prayin' to You now.
Oh, Captain Jesus, we has all lived sweetly an' sweetly
We is willin' to die for You, Amen.
SECOND BASS SOLO
Oh, Father, what die on Calbery, we's dependin' on You
we's leanin' on You to ease the rocky way,
we's been trablin' de straight an' narrow path
Dat ends in glory.
Oh, Father, what die on Calbery, darkness has descended,
we all knows it's temporary, Lawd,
but' de sooner it disappears, de sooner we gets goin' to You,
Lawd.
Oh, Father, what die on Calbery,
maybe we is po' misable sinners,
but we certainly tries all de live long day
to follow Yo' teachings.
Lawd, Oh, Father, if we ain' been doin jus' what You is
wishin' us to do
it ain' because we ain' been tryin',
'Cause we is been tryin' to follow Yo' sacred teachin's
all de live long day, Amen.
CHORUS
Lawd, hab mercy.
ALL
Oh, de Lawd shake de Heavens an' de Lawd rock de groun'
Ah - An' where you goin' stand, my brudder an' my sister,
When de sky come atumblin' down.
Oh, de sun goin' to rise in de wes'
MAN
My Jesus.
ALL
An' de moon goin' to set in de sea -
WOMAN
My Saviour.
ALL
An' de stars goin' to bow befo' my Lawd, bow down befo'
My Lawd Who died on Calvarie.
Oh, de Lawd raise de water an' de hypocrite drown
An' where you goin' stand, etc.
PORGY
Clara, come sing wid us, sister, ain' you know, song make
you forget yo' trouble. An' lif' up dat burden of sorrow
offen yo' heart.
CLARA
I 'mos' lose my mind wid yo' singing only dat one song
over an' over since daylight yesterday.
SERENA
We got to be ready singin' praises to de Lawd when Gabriel
soun' dat trumpet an' de graveya'ds spew up de dead.
SPORTING LIFE
We had storm befo', I ain't so sure this is Judgment Day.
SERENA
Well, anyhow, it ain' no time fo' takin' no chances.
(There is a sudden burst of wind, lightning and thunder)
CLARA
(holding her baby close)
One of dese mornings you goin' to rise up singin',
Den you'll spread yo wings an' you'll take de sky,
But till dat morning dere's a nothin' can harm you
Wid Daddy an' Mammy standin' by.
CHORUS
Lawd hab mercy on our soul.
Oh, de sun goin' to rise in de wes' etc.
PORGY
What make you so still, Bess,
You ain' sayin' nuttin'
You ain' afraid, is you Honey?
BESS
I jus' thinkin', an' you know what I's thinkin' about?
PORGY
You's thinkin' what dis storm mus' be like
atramplin' over de sea islands,
Dese waves mus' be runnin' clean across Kittiwah.
Ain' nobody could live on dat damn island in a storm like dis.
BESS
I guess you got me for keeps, Porgy.
PORGY
Ain'I tell you dat all along?
(Lightning flash and the roar of storm drown out singing. There is fearful screaming and shouting)
ALL
Oh, dere's somebody knockin' at de do',
Oh, dere's somebody knockin' at de do',
Oh, Mary, Oh, Marta, dere's somebody knockin' at de do'.
Oh, dere's somebody etc.
PETER
I hear Death knockin' at de do'.
LILY
What you say, Daddy Peter?
PETER
I hear Death knockin' at de do'.
LILY
It mus' be death or Peter can't hear 'im. He can't hear no
livin' pusson.
MINGO
He ain't hear nuttin', ain' nobody knock.
PETER
Death knockin' at de do'.
MARIA
Open de do', Mingo, an' show Peter dere ain' nobody dere.
MINGO
Open um up yo'self.
MARIA
All right, I'll show you.
(Suddenly - several sharp knocks on door. Cries of terror. More knocks - the door shakes violently. Men leaning against it)
WOMAN
Dat ain' no use, if he's Death, he comin anyway.
MARIA
Oh, Gawd, Gawd, don't let 'im in.
(The door slowly gives way inward, pushing men back. Wind, shrieks, prayers, men fall back. Crown enters)
CROWN
You is a nice parcel of Christians! Shut a friend out in a
storm like dis!
SERENA
Who' frien' is you?
CROWN
I's yo' frien', Sister.
(Sees Bess)
Oh, here's de woman I's lookin' fo'.
Why you ain' come an'
say hello to yo' man?
BESS
You ain't my man!
CROWN
It's sho' time I was comin' back for you, sweet Bess! You
ain't done much for yo'self while I been gone. Ain' dere
no whole ones left?
BESS
You keep yo' mouth off Porgy.
CROWN
Woman, do you want to meet yo' Gawd? Come here!
BESS
Porgy my man now!
CROWN
(Laughs)
Well, for Gawd sake, does you call dat a man? Well don' you
min', I got de forgivin' nature an' I goin' take you back.
(He grabs Bess. Porgy rises to defend her, but Crown throws him back to the floor)
PORGY
Turn dat woman loose!
BESS
Keep yo' han' off me.
SERENA
You bes' behave yo'self in dis sturm! Don' you know, Gawd
might strike you dead!
CROWN
If Gawd want to kill me, He had plenty of chance 'tween here
an' Kittiwah Island. Me an' Him havin' it out all de way from
Kittiwah, firs' Him on top, den me on top. There ain' nothin'
He likes better den a scrap wid a man. Gawd an' me is frien'!
(Thunder)
Hear dat? Gawd's laughin' at you!
(Excited ad libs)
WOMAN
(On knees)
Oh, de Lawd shake de Heavens an' de Lawd ruck de groun'
ALL
Ah, ah, ah,
An' where you goin' stan', my brudder an' my sister,
when de sky come tumblin' down, etc.
CROWN
Here, cut dat out! Stop it!
I didn't come all the way from Kittiwah
to sit up wid no corpses.
Dem dat is in such a hurry to meet de Judgement,
All dey gots to do is kiss dereselves goodbye
an' step out dat door.
Daddy Peter, here's yo' chance.
De Jim-crow's leavin' an' you don' need no ticket.
(To Serena)
How about you, ole lady? What, dere ain'no travellers?
Don' you hear Gawd a'mighty laughin' at you?
Dat's right, Gawd laugh an' Crown laugh back.
Ha, ha, ha, ha Dat s right, drown em out,
don let em sing. Ha, ha, ha, ha!
How 'bout dis one, Big Frien'?
A red-headed woman makes a cho-choo jump its track.
A red-headed woman she can make it jump right back.
Oh, she's jus' nature's child,
She's got somethin' dat drives men wild.
A red-headed woman's gonna take you wedder you're
White, yellow or black.
But show me the red-head that kin make a fool of me!
Oh, she ain' existin' on de lan' or on de sea.
Oh, you kin knock me down
If dey don't fall for Brudder Crown.
Oh, show me de redhead dat kin make a goddam fool of me.
ALL
Lawd, Lawd, save us, don t listen to dat Crown, Lawd,
Jesus, oh, pay no min' to dat Crown
Oh, Lawd, strike him down, strike him down.
Oh, Lawd, don't listen to dat Crown.
CROWN
Oh show me de redhead that can make a fool of me,
Oh, she ain't existin' on de land or on de sea.
Oh you kin knock me down if they don't fall for
Brudder Crown.
Oh, show me de redhead dat can make a goddam fool of,
I said a fool out o' me!
(Clara, at the window screams and falls back)
BESS
Jake's boat in de river, upside down!
CLARA
Jake! Jake!
(Turns to Bess)
Bess, keep my baby for me till I get back!
(Bess reaches out for baby)
(Clara rushes out)
BESS
Clara oughtn't to be out dere all by herself.
Won't somebody go to Clara?
Ain't dere no man here?
CROWN
Yeah, where is a man? Porgy, what you sittin' dere for?
Ain't you hear yo' woman callin' for a man? Looks to me
like dere ain' only one man 'roun' here! All right, I'm goin'
out to get Clara, then I'm comin' back to get you.
PORGY
No, you don't!
CROWN
All right, Big Frien', we's on for another bout!
(Crown opens door and plunges out. Roar)
SINGERS
Oh, Doctor Jesus, look down on me wit'pity, etc...
Oh, Lawd above, we knows You can destroy, etc...
Oh, Captain Jesus, find it in Yo' heart to save us, etc...
Professor Jesus, teach Yo' ignorant chillen, etc...
Oh, Father what die on Calbery, etc...
Oh, Hev'nly Father, hab mercy on we, etc...
Amen!
CURTAIN
ACT III
Scene 1
CATFISH ROW
(The storm has ended. It is dusk.)
CHORUS
Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted,
Clara, Clara, don't you be sad an' lonesome.
Jesus is walkin' on de water.
Rise up an' follow Him home.
Oh, Lawd, oh my Jesus, rise up an' follow Him home.
Jake, Jake, don't you be downhearted,
Jake, Jake, don't you be sad an' lonesome, etc.
Crown, Crown, don t you be downhearted,
SPORTING LIFE
(laughs under Serena's stairs)
Ha, ha, ha, ha,
MARIA
You low-lived skunk, ain' you got no shame, laughin' at
those po' womens whaf's singin' for their mens los' in the
storm !
SPORTING LIFE
(Laughs)
I ain't see no sense in makin' such a fuss over a man when
he's dead; when a gal loses her man dere's plenty o' men
still livin' what likes good lookin' gals.
MARIA
I know it ain' dem gals you is after, ain' you see, Bess got no
use for you, ain' you see she got a man?
SPORTING LIFE
(Laughs)
I see more'n dat, Auntie, I see she got two men.
MARIA
What you mean by dat? Bess got two men. Crown dead
ain' he?
SPORTING LIFE
(Laughs)
I ain' tellin' you nothin', but a woman who got jus' one man,
maybe she got him for keeps, but when she got two mens,
there's mighty apt to be a carvin', den de cops comes in an'
takes de leavin's. An' pretty soon she ain't got none.
(Maria enters shop. Sporting Life goes off.)
BESS
(Singing to Clara's baby ot window)
Summertime an' the livin' is easy,
Fish are jumpin' an'the cotton is high.
Oh yo' daddy's rich an yo' ma's good lookin'
so hush, little baby, don' you cry, Ah.
(Bess leaves window)
(Crown enters the empty courtyard and picks his way stealthily across the court. Dropping to his hands and knees he crawls toward Porgy's door. Above Crown, the shutter opens slowly. An arm is extended, the hand grasping a long knife. The arm descends plunging the knife into Crown's back. The knife is withdrawn and hurled into court. Crown staggers upright as Porgy leans from window and closes both hands around his throat. They struggle at the window, and Porgy kills Crown, hurling the body into the, courtyard.)
PORGY
(Laughing triumphantly)
Bess, Bess, you got a man now, you got Porgy!
CURTAIN
ACT III
Scene 2
CATFISH ROW
DETECTIVE
(Appears at gate with Coroner)
Wait for us at the corner, Al. We'll put the widow
through first.
(Climbs steps to Serena's window knocks and descends to court.)
Come on down Serena Robbins, and make it damn quick!
(Slight pause. Then shutter pops open)
ANNIE
(At the window)
Huh! Serena been very sick in her bed three day an' I been
here with her all de time.
(Pops back in - closes shutters)
DETECTIVE
The hell she has. Tell her if she don't come down
wagon and run her in.
(Serena appears ot the window. Groans.)
DETECTIVE
Where were you last night, Serena Robbins?
SERENA
I been sick in dis bed three day an' three night.
ANNIE
An' we been nursin' her all dat time.
LILY
Dat's de Gawd's truth.
CORONER
Would you swear to that?
ALL
Yes, boss, we swear to that.
CORONER
There you are, an air-tight alibi.
DETECTIVE
Just two months ago right here Crown killed your husband,
didn't he?
(Pause)
Answer me, you'll either talk here or in jail.
Did Crown kill you husband, yes or no?
WOMEN
We swear to dat, boss.
DETECTIVE
And last night Crown got his right here, didn't he?
ANNIE
(Laughs)
Go 'long, boss, ain' dat gentleman say we is "alabi"?
DETECTIVE
(Shouting with rage)
Was Crown killed here - yes or no?
SERENA, ANNIE and LILY
We ain' see nuttin' boss. We been in dis room three day an'
night an' de window been closed.
DETECTIVE
Look at me, Serena Robbins. Do you mean to tell me that
the man who killed your husband was bumped off under
your window, and you didn't know it?
SERENA, ANNIE and WOMAN
We ain' see nuttin' Boss. We been in dis room
Three days an' nights.
DETECTIVE
(Exasperated)
Three days and nights!
ANNIE
An' de window been closed.
(They close shutters)
DETECTIVE
You needn't do that one again.
Oh hell! You might as well argue with a parrot,
but you'll never break their story.
But I'll get you a witness for your inquest.
Step over here an' I'll put the cripple through.
(Goes to Porgy's door and kicks it open violently.)
Come out both of you there, step lively now!
(Bess helps Porgy to the doorstep, then she stands by him, the baby in her arms. Sporting Life enters court and silently watches.)
CORONER
What is your name?
PORGY
Jus' Porgy. You knows me, boss,
You done give me plenty of pennies on Meetin' Street.
CORONER
Of course - you're the goat man,
I didn't know you with no wagon.
I'm the coroner, not a policeman.
Now this dead one, Crown, you knew him by sight, didn't
you? You'd know him if you saw him again?
PORGY
Yes, boss, seems like I remember him,
when he used to come 'round' here long time ago.
But I ain' care none' bout seein' him.
DETECTIVE
Well, you've got to see him anyway. Come along.
CORONER
You needn't be afraid. All you've got to do is to view the
body as a witness, and tell us who it is.
PORGY
(Terror stricken)
I got to go an' look at Crown's face...
CORONER
Yes, that's all.
PORGY
With all dem white folks lookin' at me?
CORONER
Oh cheer up. I reckon you've seen a dead body before.
It'll all be over in a few minutes.
PORGY
There ain' goin' be nobody in dat room 'cept me?
DETECTIVE
Just you an' Crown, if you can still call him one.
PORGY
Boss, I couldn't jus' bring a woman with me?
I...I couldn't even carry my woman?
DETECTIVE
No! You can't bring anyone. I'll send an officer to help you
out.
PORGY
Boss, boss...
DETECTIVE
Now get this... I have summoned you an' you have to go.
or you'll go to jail for contempt of court.
(Leaves with Coroner)
(Porgy turns to Bess)
PORGY
Oh, Lawd what I goin' do?
BESS
You've got to go Porgy,
maybe you can jus' make like to look at him
an' keep yo' eye shut;
You goin' be alright, Porgy.
You only goin' be a witness.
SPORTING LIFE
(Who has been enjoying it)
I ain' so sure of that. All I know is that when the
man that killed Crown go in that room - an' look at him
Crown' wound begin to bleed!
PORGY
(Terror-stricken)
Oh, my Jesus!
SPORTING LIFE
That's one way the cops got of tellin' who killed him.
PORGY
I can't look at Crown's face
Oh Gawd, what I goin' do?
POLICEMAN
(Entering with a second policeman.)
Hey, you there, come along!
(They start dragging Porgy to the gate.)
PORGY
I ain' goin' look on his face!
POLICEMAN
Oh, you'll look all right.
PORGY
Turn me loose, turn me loose you can't make
his face! Ain't nobody can make me look on Crown's face!
(He is dragged out)
BESS
Oh, Gawd! They goin' make him look on Crowns's face!
SPORTING LIFE
(Laughs)
Sister, that Porgy ain' goin' be no witness now. They goin'
lock him up in jail
BESS
Lock him up? Not for long, Sportin' Life!
SPORTING LIFE
Not for long. Maybe one year, maybe two year, maybe--
just like I tol' you, ain' nobody home now but Bess and ole
Sportin' Life.
(He takes her hand)
But cheer up, sistuh, Ole Spurtin' Life givin' you de stuff for
scare away, dem lonesome blues.
BESS
Happy dus'! I ain' want none of dat stuff, I tells you. Take
dat stuff away, Buzzard!
(Sporting Life almost forces Bess to toke the dope. She suddenlly yields and clops her hund over mouth)
SPORTING LIFE
That's the thing, ain' it? An' membuh there's.
where that come from. Listen: There's a boat dat's
leavin' soon for New York. Come wid me, dat's where
we belong, sister.
You an' me kin live dat high life in New York.
Come wid me, dere you can't go wrong, sister.
I'll buy you de swellest mansion
Up on upper Fi'th Avenue
An' through Harlem we'll go struttin',
We'll go astruttin',
An' dere'll be nuttin'
Too good for you.
I'll dress you in silks and satins
In de latest Paris styles.
And de blues you'll be forgettin',
You'll be forgettin',
There'll be no frettin'
Jes nothin' but smiles.
Come along wid me, Hey dat's de place,
Don't be a fool, come along, come along.
There's a boat dat's leavin' soon for New York
Come wid me, dat's where we belong, sister,
Dat's where we belong! Come on, Bess!
BESS
You low, crawlin' hound! Get away from my door, I tells
you, leave it, you rattlesnake. Dat's what you is,
a rattlesnake!
(Sporting Life hands her a second paper. She knocks it out of his hand and runs to her door and inside)
SPORTING LIFE
Don't want take a second shot, eh! All right, I'll leave it
here. Maybe you'll change yo' mind.
(Sporting Life tosses paper with dope on the doorstep. He smiles, lights a cigarette, starts sauntering off blowing smoke rings, sure that Bess will come back for the dope.)
CURTAIN
ACT III
Scene 3
CATFISH ROW
(It is one week later)
MAN
Good mornin' sistuh!
WOMAN
Good mornin', brudder
MEN
Good mornin', sistuh!
WOMEN
Good mornin', brudder.
(Everybody waves)
ALL
Good mornin', Good mornin'
How are you dis very lovely mornin'? How are you dis
very lovely mornin'?
CHILDREN
La, la, la, la, la, la, la. Sure to go to Heaven,
Yes, you boun' to go to Heaven, sure to go to Heaven.
If yo' good to yo' mammy an' yo' pappy, wash yo'
face an' make dem happy. Den you'll be St. Peter's
loveable chile. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
ALL
How are you dis mornin'?
Feelin' fine an' dandy
Tell me how are you dis mornin'?
Feelin' fine an' dandy
Tell me how are you dis mornin'?
Feelin' fine an' dandy.
Tell me how are you on dis lovely
Mornin' - How are you dis lovely day?
(Clang of patrolwagon is heard)
MINGO
It's Porgy comin' home.
(Crowd breaks up into groups and gazes apprehensively at the gate.)
PORGY
Thank Gawd I's home again!
CHORUS
Welcome home, Porgy. We're all so glad you is back again.
PORGY
(Crossing over to Maria's table.)
Dem white folks sure ain' put nuthin'
over on this baby.
Ain' I tell you, I ain' goin' look on Crown's face.
LILY
You ain' look on um Porgy?
PORGY
No, no, no, no, I keep dese e yes shut in dat room 'til they
done put me in jail for contemp' of court.
(Not noticing any of the embarrassed behavior of his friends)
Sh...Don' anybody let on I's home again.
I got a surprise for Bess. Sweet Bess,
an' I ain' wants her to know, 'til I get ev'rything ready.
Bring dem bundles here, Scipio!
Here, boy, look what I brought for you.
Throw away that ole mouth organ you got
an' start on this one.
See, it got a picture of a brass band on it
Work on that an' the firs' thing you know
you'll be playin' wid de orphans.
(Still not noticing how the crowd is sneaking away.)
Lily Holmes, Lily Holmes!
Here gal, hol' up yo' head. Dat's right.
I never did like dat ole funeral bonnet
Peter buy for you... Get down, sistuh;
(Presenting her with o gorgeous feather trimmed hat)
Dere now, get underneath dat,
an' make all de redbird an' de bluejay jealous.
(Unwrapping a dress)
Now dat's de style for my Bess.
She's one gal what always look good in red.
(Noticing how his friends are leaving, he tries to pull them bock with an interesting story.)
Listen to this, ev'rybody; I reckon I's de firs' fella
roun' here what go to jail po' and leave there rich;
All de time I got my lucky bones hid in my mout',
see,...An' I jus' got t'ru dem other crap-shootin' polecats
like Glory Hallelujah!
Now, ain' dis de thing?
'Course de baby ain' big enough
to wear a dress like dis yet,
but he goin' grow fast. You watch,
he goin' be in dat dress by de first frost.
An' now it's time to call Bess.
Bess, oh, Bess, here Porgy come home!
(Aside to Maria)
Jus' you wait till dat gal see me. Oh, Bess!
Here Mingo, What's de matter wid you all?
Where you goin'? What kind of a welcome
is dis for a man what's just been in jail
for contemp' of court?
(Seeing Serena holding Clara's baby)
Why, hello, if dere ain't Serena
You sho' work fast, sistuh.
I jus' been gone a week,
an' here you are wid a new baby.
(Seeing who the baby is...)
Here, hol' on, let me see dat chile
dat's Bess' baby ain'it,
where you get it? Where Bess anyhow?
She ain' answer me.
(Everyone has left except Maria and Serena. Porgy crawls to his door ond enters.)
Bess, ain' you here? Bess!
(Comes out of his door, frantic)
Maria, Maria, where s Bess,
tell me quick where's Bess,
Tell me quick... Where's Bess. Where is Bess!
Oh, Bess!
MARIA
Ain' we tell you all along, Porgy,
Dat woman ain' fit fo' you?
PORGY
I ain' axin' yo' opinion.
Oh, Bess, oh where's my Bess,
Won't somebody tell me where?
I ain' care what she say,
I ain' care what she done,
won't somebody tell me where's my Bess?
Bess, Oh, Lawd,
My Bess! I want her now,
Widout her I can't go on.
I counted de days dat I was gone
Till I got home to see her face.
Won't somebody tell me where's my Bess?
I want her so, my gal, my Bess,
where is she?
Oh Gawd, in yo' big Heav'n
please show me where I mus' go,
oh give me de strength, show me de way!
Tell me de truth, where is she, where is my gal,
where is my Bess!
MARIA
Dat dirty dog Sportin' Life make believe
dat you lock up for ever.
He tol' her dat you would be gone
for de rest of yo' days.
Yo' woman been very low in her mind
she believe ev'rything Sportin' Life say to her,
dat's how it was.
She been very low, yo' woman misunderstand,
she t'ink you never come back to her;
Sportin' Life fool her, fool yo' Bess.
She is gone.
Man, don't you let it break yo' heart 'bout dat gal.
We told you all along dat dat woman ain' worthy of you.
She was no good, Porgy,
or she'd never go 'way.
Try forget 'bout Bess.
SERENA
She gone, but you very lucky;
she gone back to de happy dus'.
She done throw Jesus out of her heart.
Bess dat kin' of gal,
I told you dat all along.
Porgy, you is better off
widout dat woman hangin' 'roun' an' makin' trouble.
She give herself away to de debbil.
Porgy, you is better off
widout dat woman hangin' 'roun';
there's plenty better gals than Bess.
Bess is gone, She worse than dead, Porgy,
she gone back to de happy dus',
she gone back to de red eye wid him
an' she's headin' fo' Hell.
Thank God she's out of yo' way.
Try forget 'bout Bess.
LILY
Bess is gone. An' Serena take dis chile
to give 'im a Christian raisin'.
PORGY
You ain' mean Bess dead?
SERENA
She worse than dead, Porgy,
She gave herself to de debbil,
but she still livin', an' she gone far away.
PORGY
Alive, Bess is alive!
Where Bess gone?
MINGO
Noo York.
PORGY
I hear you say Noo York. Where dat?
MINGO
A thousand mile from here.
PORGY
Which way Noo York?
MARIA
It's way up North pas' de custom house.
PORGY
Bring my goat!
MARIA
What you wants wid goat, Porgy?
You bes' not go any place.
PORGY
Bring my goat!
SERENA
You better stay wid yo' frien', Porgy,
You'll be happy here.
PORGY
Won't nobody bring my goat?
MARIA
Ain't we tell you, you can't find her, Porgy?
SERENA
For Gawd sake, Porgy, where you goin'?
ALL
Where yau goin' Porgy? ;
PORGY
Ain't you say Bess gone to Noo York?
Dat's where I goin',
I got to be wid Bess.
Gawd help me to fin' her.
(Mingo leads goat and cart over. Porgy holds up arms and is helped into cart)
I'm on my way.
(Cart is led off)
Oh Lawd, I'm on my way.
PORGY AND ALL
I'm on my way to a Heav'nly Lan',
I'll ride dat long, long road.
If You are there to guide my han'.
Oh Lawd, I'm on my way.
I'm on my way to a Heav'nly Lan'-
Oh Lawd. It's a long, long way, but
You'll be there to take my han'.
END OF OPERA
