Ambition (Tradition) lyrics
Ambition (Tradition)
TEVYE (spoken):
An actor in New York. Sounds crazy, no? But here in our little village of Manhattan,
there are over 50,000 actors, all trying their best not to end up in Baltimore. It isn't easy.
You may ask, "Why do we stay here if it's so competitive?" We stay because everyone else
is here. And what keeps us from ending up in Baltimore? That I can tell you in one word!!
(sung)
Ambition!
Ambition, ambition!
Ambition!
TEVYE & WOMAN:
Ambition, ambition!
(Drrrr ruh duh duh)
Ambition!
TEVYE (spoken):
Here in Manhattan we have our ambitions for everything. Opera, ballet, television, even
waiting on tables. For instance, we always wear these cute little bow ties, and carry these
side towels. This shows our constant devotion to... money!
MAN (sung):
Ahhhhhhh!
I need so much money
For my rent, my phone and service
So I work all night
And never have the chance, hey!
To go and earn money
For my rent my phone and service
So I never have the time to sing and dance, hey!
TEVYE (spoken):
You may ask, "How did these ambitions get started?" I'll tell you. I don't know. But this
much I do remember.
(sung)
When I was ten
I saw a show on TV
Saw a show on TV starring Gary Moore
I wrote and I asked him to put me on his show
But he said go ask Dinah Shore
Rejection, rejection!
Ambition!
TEVYE & WOMAN:
Rejection, rejection!
Ambition!
GOLDE:
When I went through puberty I was depressed
To see myself when I undressed
And so to modelling I acquiesed
Depression, depression!
GOLDE & TEVYE:
Ambition!
Depression, depression!
Ambition!
MOTEL:
At ten I was a pretty boy
At seventeen, a dream
I never had a pimple
So I do... commercials
Complexion, complexion
MOTEL, GOLDE & TEVYE:
Ambition!
Complexion, complexion!
Ambition!
TZEITEL:
And when I was a child
Nobody looked my way
Until I got the lead
In my high school senior play
Attention, attention!
TZEITEL, MOTEL, GOLDE & TEVYE:
Ambition!
Attention, attention!
Ambition!
(All characters repeat their verses simutaneously)
TZEITEL, MOTEL, GOLDE & TEVYE:
Rejection, depression, complexion, attention!
Ambition!
TEVYE (spoken):
Ambition. Ambition. Without our ambitions,
our lives would be as crazy as... as an actor in New York!
TZEITEL, MOTEL, GOLDE & TEVYE:
Follow every rainbow
Til you find your dreams!
[Thanks to Garrett for lyrics]
Last Update: June, 10th 2013