Andrew Lloyd Webber
A New Argentina
[PERÓN]
Dice are rolling, the knives are out
Would-be presidents are all around
I don't say they mean harm
But they'd each give an arm
To see us six feet underground
[EVA]
It doesn't matter what those morons say
Our nation's leaders are a feeble crew
There's only twenty of them anyway
What is twenty next to millions who
Are looking to you?
All you have to do is sit and wait
Keeping out of everybody's way
We'll—
You'll be handed power on a plate
When the ones who matter have their say
And with chaos installed
You can reluctantly agree to be called
[PERÓN]
There again we could be foolish
Not to quit while we're ahead
For distance lends enchantment
And that is why
All exiles are distinguished
More important, they're not dead
I could find job satisfaction in Paraguay
[EVA]
This is crazy defeatist talk
Why commit political suicide?
There's no risk, there's no call for any action at all
When you have unions on your side
[WORKERS]
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!
[CHE]
A new Argentina!
The chains of the masses untied!
A new Argentina!
The voice of the people
Cannot be denied!
[EVA]
There is only one man who can lead any workers' regime
He lives for your problems
He shares your ideals and your dream
He supports you, for he loves you
Understands you, is one of you
If not—how could he love me?
[CHE & WORKERS]
A new Argentina!
The workers' battle song
A new Argentina!
The voice of the people
Rings out loud and long!
[EVA]
Now I am a worker, I've suffered the way that you do
I've been unemployed, and I've starved and I've hated it too
But I found my salvation
In Perón—may the nation
Let him save them as he saved me
[CHE]
A new Argentina!
A new age about to begin
[CHE & MEN]
A new Argentina!
We face the world together
And no dissent within!
[MEN & WOMEN, variously]
Nationalization of the industries
That the foreigners control
Participation in the profits that we make
Shorter hours, higher wages
Votes for women, larger dole
More public spending, a bigger slice of every cake
[PERÓN]
It's annoying that we have to fight elections for our cause
The inconvenience—having to get a majority
If normal methods of persuasion fail to win us applause
There are other ways of establishing authority
[SECRET POLICE]
We have ways of making you vote for us
Or at least of making you abstain
[EVA]
Perón has resigned from the army and this we avow
The descamisados are those he is marching with now!
He supports you, for he loves you
Understands you—is one of you
If not—how could he love me?
[ENSEMBLE]
A new Argentina!
The chains of the masses untied!
A new Argentina!
The voice of the people
Cannot be
And will not be
And must not be
Denied!
[PERÓN]
There again we could be foolish
Not to quit while we're ahead
I can see me many miles away
Inactive
Sipping cocktails on a terrace
Taking breakfast in bed
Sleeping easy, doing crosswords
It's attractive
[EVA]
Don't think I don't think like you
I often get those nightmares too
They always take some swallowing
Sometimes it's very difficult to keep momentum
If it's you that you are following
Don't close doors
Keep an escape clause
Because we might lose
The Big Apple
But would I have done what I did
If I hadn't thought
If I hadn't known
We would take the country?
[ENSEMBLE]
A new Argentina!
The chains of the masses untied!
A new Argentina!
The voice of the people
Cannot be
And will not be
And must not be
Denied!