"Green Finch And Linnet Bird" Lyrics

(There is a moment of darkness in which we hear the trilling and
twittering of songbirds. Light comes up on the façade of Judge
Turpin's mansion. A Bird Seller enters carrying a bizarre cons-
truction of little wicker birdcages tied together. It is in these
that the birds are singing. At an upper level of the Judge's
mansion appears a very young, exquisitely beautiful girl with a
long mane of shining blonde hair. This is Johanna. For a moment
she stands disconsolate, then her eyes fall on the birds)

Johanna: [Spoken]
And how are they today?

Bird Seller: [Spoken]
Hungry as always, Miss Johanna.
(He lifts the cages up to her)

Johanna:
Green finch and linnet bird,
Nightingale, blackbird,
How is it you sing?
How can you jubilate,
Sitting in cages,
Never taking wing?
Outside the sky waits,
Beckoning, beckoning,
Just beyond the bars.
How can you remain,
Staring at the rain,
Maddened by the stars?
How is it you sing anything?
How is it you sing?

Green finch and linnet bird,
Nightingale, blackbird,
How is it you sing?
Whence comes this melody
Constantly flowing?
Is it rejoicing,
Or merely halloing?
Are you discussing,
Or Fussing,
Or simply dreaming?
Are you crowing?
Are you screaming?

Ringdove and robinet,
Is it for wages,
Singing to be sold?
Have you decided it's
Safer in cages,
Singing when you're told?
(Anthony enters. Instantly he sees her and stands transfixed by
her beauty)
My cage has many rooms,
Damask and dark.
Nothing there sings,
Not even my lark.

Larks never will, you know,
When they're captive.
Teach me to be more adaptive.
Ahh...

Green finch and linnet bird,
Nightingale, blackbird,
Teach me how to sing.
If I cannot fly,
Let me sing.
(She gazes into the middle distance disconsolately)