Dom ser Amerika!

(They see America!)

It was on Midsummer Eve, in the year1850, that the brig 'Charlotta' tied-up at the pier in New York, after ten weeks sailing. Seventy eight emmigrants set out from Karlshamn, seventy had arrived.

Fina-Kajsa is still muttering her little phrase over-and-over, but now it's become "oh dear-bless me, I never thought we'd get here…". Then, the poor thing loses the grinding stone she brought all this way, it falls into the harbour when being unloaded!

The glamorous looking Americans are promenading in their 'Sunday best' clothes through Battery Park. They don't even notice these pale, gaunt people disembarking on wobbly legs - unused to the feeling of solid land…

SPATSERANDE AMERIKANER: (STROLLING AMERICANS:)

How do you do,

how are you

It's a beautiful day

Here in Battery Park

Perfect,

wouldn't you say

You are well, I can tell

Nice to see you again

It's been such a long time, see you soon then my friend

That's a wonderful dress, is your mother alright

She was looking quite frail, at the concert last night

That's the mayor, right there, keeps his wife in the dark 'bout the money he's lost

We all go for a stroll, no particular goal on a Sunday in Battery Park

DANJEL:

Inför dej Herre jag krälar i stoftet

(Before You my Lord I'm crawling in the dust)

Tack för det lidande Du har beskärt oss

(Thank you for the suff 'ring you've given to us)

Rentvå mej, Fader, förlåt mej för högmodets synd

(I repent Father, forgive me for the sin of pride)

FINA-KAJSA:

Anders, min son, har blett rik i Amerika

(Anders, my son, he got rich in America)

Han har ett hemman, ett helt egen hemman

(He has a home here, he owns it! - his own home! )

Slipsten ska han ha, ackanamej, men jag tror aldrig vi kommer fram

(Grinding stone I'll bring, oh dear-bless me, but I never believed we would get here!!)

ROBERT:

Titta där Arvid, det skeppet du ser det ska gå till Kalifornien.

(Over there Arvid, that ship that you see it shall go to California)

Det ska till guldfälten, tänk dej det Arvid, att gräva guld och bli rik!

(It goes to goldfields, oh- think of it Arvid, to dig for gold and be rich!)

Av alla skeppen här i hamnen

(Of all the ships here in the harbour)

är Angelica det enda jag skulle kunna tänka mej att följa med!

(the 'Angelica' is the only one I would be able to imagine going with!)

SPATSERANDE AMERIKANER: (STROLLING AMERICANS:)

How do you do,

How are you?

It's a beautiful day

Here in Battery Park

Look, who's coming this way

Though he's rich, Mr. Clark

leads a miserable life

always under the thumb of his Mexican wife

You are well, I can tell, nice to see you again

It's been such a long time, see you soon then, my friend

Look, the mayor himself's cringing to Mr. Clark

It's a sight to behold when we go for a stroll, no particular goal,

On a Sunday in Battery Park
 

INVANDRARNKVINNORNA: (IMMIGRANT WOMEN:)

Se på den klänningen och på den hatten där

(See all the clothes on them and all the hats, look there!)

Den var rent och märkligt grann kjolen den kvinnan bär

(They're strikingly gaudy aprons the women wear)
 

INVANDRARNA: (IMMIGRANTS:)

Språket är helt förvrängt är det nån som förstår

(Language is distorted we just can't understand)

Säjer dom nåt om oss man står här som ett får

(Do they talk about us? Like some sheep, here we stand)

Trög och stum,

(Slow and stunned,)

Hjälplös och dum.

(Helpless and dumb.)