ENGINEER

my father was a tattoo artist in Haiphong

but his designs on mother didn't last too long

my mother sold her body, high on Betel nuts

my job was bringing red-faced monsieurs to our huts

selling your mom is a wrench

perfume can cover a stench

that's what I learned from the French



then it all changed with Dien Bien Phu

the frogs went home. Who came? Guess who?

are you surprised we went insane

with dollars pouring down like rain?

businessmen never rob banks

you can sell shit and get thanks

that's what I learned from the Yanks



I'm fed up with small-time hustles

I'm too good to waste my talent for greed

I need room to flex my muscles

in an ocean where the big sharks feed

make me Yankee, they're my fam'ly

they're selling what people need



what's that I smell in the air

the American dream

sweet as a new millionaire

the American dream

pre-packed, ready-to-wear

the American dream

fat, like a chocolate eclair

as you suck out the cream



luck by the tail

how can you fail?

and best of all, it's for sale

the American dream



greasy chinks make life so sleazy

in the States I'll have a club that's four-starred

men like me there have things easy

they have a lawyer and a body-guard

to the Johns there I'll sell blondes there

that they can charge on a card



what's that I smell in the air?

the American dream

sweet as a suite in Bel-air

the American dream

girls can buy tits by the pair

the American dream

bald people think they'll grow hair

the American dream



call girls are lining time square

the American dream

bums there have money to spare

the American dream

cars that have bars take you there

the American dream

on stage each night: Fred Astaire

the American dream



shlitz down the drain!

pop the Champagne!

it's time we all entertain

my American dream!



ENGINEER and CROWD

come ev'ryone, come and share

the American dream

name what you want and it's there

the American dream

spend and have money to spare

the American dream

live like you haven't a care

the American dream

what other place can compare

the American dream

come and get more than your share

the American dream



ENGINEER

there I will crown

Miss Chinatown

all yours for ten percent down



ALL

the American dream!



(CHRIS, JOHN and ELLEN enter. THE ENGINEER takes them to see KIM and TAM.)