Rags: The New American Musical: Penny a Tune

Penny a tune
 Penny a tune
 Tunes from around the block
 Tunes from afar
 Beautiful tunes
 Played by musicians
 Who played for the Czar
 
 Penny a tune
 (For a)
 Penny a tune
 (Only a penny)
 Empty your pockets and fill up our hats
 Music from the shops and the cold water flats
 All for a penny a tune
 All over the East Side they're making a beat
 Four quarter time in the air
 For kiddies and grannies
 And tenement crannies
 Working their fannies off there
 They bring us the rhythm of Rivington Street
 For just a penny a tune
 One things for sure, though
 We sweat and we stitch
 Where folks are poor that's where music is rich
 Music tonight and the long afternoon
 At only a penny a tune
 Stitch, pedal stitch
 Stitch, pedal stitch
 Oh Nathan you should see me working in this shop
 Here where the needles and the noises never stop
 So many things I've done I thought I couldn't do
 Oh Nathan, to be with you
 The days may be long and the work may be dull
 Patience and strength can wear thin
 The music comes near it
 Can lift up your spirit
 To hear it from seats by your win
 ♪
 Oh I've got a boyfriend, and his name is Ben
 Ain't that a beautiful name
 He's got this rich cousin
 And work that Ben does in
 His factory will make Ben the same
 Some day he'll be boss there
 I know it, and then
 He'll be coming for me
 I don't know when
 But it's gonna be soon
 Left the factory in Minsk
 To cross the sea
 And look at me, I ain't come far
 A prince among men
 My Prince Street tycoon
 But I'll find Bella here
 And make a family
 And never make another damn cigar
 Oh sweet are the dreams of
 A hot afternoon
 Play it again
 For Bella and Ben
 At only a penny a tune
 ♪
 Pots and pans and dishes
 Almost new, folks
 Usually a dime
 But just a nickel, for you
 We got apples sweet as spices
 Hey you can't beat our prices
 A loss we're taking
 All we're making
 Here is making do
 Aahh
 Aahh
 ♪
 Listen to those Eastside melodies
 Old world, new world, jumbled up in strange harmonies
 Out of the noise and the dreams and the sweat
 Ain't it a wonder what music we get
 Priceless, and yet
 Just a penny a tune!