I want to be a dancer, I’m going to be the next Fred Astaire
But you say I can’t, keep my eyes up, and have this evil stare
You made us move, took my father away, tell me will I see him soon
Cause all I have left are these words under my breath, Dad see it, same moon, same moon
We said no-no to fight, with your armies sticks and stones
But even if we have said yes, we would still be dying alone
Oh Kenji was your model, the perfect Japanese American
But even he died with nothing after being disgraced and forsaken
Tell us America, what do you want us to do
To show up on your shores and be accepted by you
What on your God’s name do you want us to do
We’re just trying to survive, because we are humans too
Don’t you forget now, we are humans too.
My life’s been cursed with water, but you never set me free
I still want to go back to those ocean waves, cause here no one is looking for me
I was struggling with my father as we washed up on your shore
But you would’ve marked us as different, suspicious, and kicked us out your door
I’m not a cyborg, but a citizen. I’m a gift to your race.
But you don’t have the care or comfort that I deserve, and I’ve never felt your grace
So sexualize me, I’m a fish in your sea
Just don’t think that you could ever truly generalize me
Tell us America, what do you want us to do
To show up on your shores and be accepted by you
What on your God’s name do you want us to do
We’re just trying to survive, because we are humans too
Don’t you forget now, we are humans too.
I became an ox with nothing, on your angel’s prison sand
Detained on your devil’s pass, this isn’t the America we planned
Oh masculinity will mess up your free land
You should be focused on the people, not the size of your hands
Tell us America, what do you want us to do
To show up on your shores and be accepted by you
What on your God’s name do you want us to do
We’re just trying to survive, because we are humans too
Don’t you forget now, we are humans too.
Finishing Dialogue:
I must say something that I couldn’t put in the song. It wouldn’t have made sense in the lyrics, but I wanted to write it all along. That I’m disappointed and upset, y’all know it makes me whine… about how Fokir from Hungry Tide didn’t live and Kanaii didn’t die. And then on top of that, he didn’t even lose a limb, but he should have because his Grandmother said why be scared of tigers when there’s predators like him. It’s okay, I’m still satisfied and in love with this class. We just all know that Kanaii better thank his lucky…. stars for Piya and his life. Because in the middle of his strife, his masculinity still thrived. While laying weak and helpless on the ground, somehow this high-class naive idiot survived. Oh Ghosh. Thank you for listening, I know I must end for your sake. Good luck on the rest of your finals and have a good break. You all have been great investigators of literature as I had a lot of fun in this class with you all too. Now please let a humbled and honest Joey, not the prostitute, stop ranting and finally say adieu.
omg thank u