Professional Theater version of the journey: "Mama Will Provide" and "Some Say"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzDR9vY9hvA

Musical Adaptation of "The Help Desiree Receives" in her Journey

"Mama Will Provide"

WOMAN
But on this island the earth sings
As soon as the storm ends.

MAN
And as Ti Moune set out she realized
She was walking with old friends.

WOMAN
The birds...

THREE WOMEN
Coo coo, coo coo, coo coo coo
Coo coo, coo coo, coo coo coo

TWO MEN
Sha sha sha-aah

MAN
The trees...

BOTH
Sha sha sha-aah

TWO MEN
Ba-oom boom boom

MAN
The frogs!

BOTH
Ba-oom boom boom

WOMAN
And the breezes!

THREE WOMEN
Oooooooooh
Oooooooooh...

Man
Ti Moune lost all her fear.
She knew Asaka was near!

ASAKA
You've never been away from the sea, child.
You're gonna need a helping hand.
A fish has got to learn to swim on land!

Walk with me, little girl,
Don't you be afraid
Follow me, little girl
Let me be your guide
A pretty thing like you
Will need a thing or two
And whatever you need
Mama will provide

Oh...
Down the road, little girl
You may lose your way
All alone in a world
That may seem too wide
But sit on Mama's lap
And I will draw a map
And whatever
You need
Mama will
Provide

I'll provide you:

Storyteller
Moss!

ASAKA
To soften the road

STORYTELLER
Rocks!

ASAKA
To sit on!

STORYTELLER
Trees!

ASAKA
To sleep underneath!

STORYTELLER
Sand

ASAKA
Fun for your toes

STORYTELLER
Plantain!

ASAKA
To fill up your belly

STORYTELLER
Breeze

ASAKA
To fan your face

STORYTELLER
Grass

ASAKA
For making your bed

STORYTELLER
Ha!!
Bug will bite little girl
And the night will fall
All alone in the dark
You'll be terrified
But you will make it through
'Cause I am liking you!
And whatever you need Mama will
Provide!

Oh...
Walk with me, little girl
And I'll take you far
Round each bend, little friend
I'll be by your side
That's what a Mama's worth
To give her child the earth
And whatever you need
Mama will...
Provide!!!

Musical Adaptation of Desiree's journey in My Love, My Love

"Some Say"

ALL STORYTELLERS Some say... STORYTELLER How Ti Moune began the long journey toward the city! ALL Some say: STORYTELLER Some say her feet were bare And the road was long and cruel ALL Some say: STORYTELLER Some say she got a ride >From a vendor and his mule ALL Some say: STORYTELLER The gods pulled up in a car And drove her all the way ALL Well, no one knows How the real truth goes But that's what some say! Some say! LITTLE GIRL And how far did she travel? STORYTELLERS As far as you suppose LITTLE GIRL And how long did it take her? STORYTELLERS Much longer than your nose! LITTLE GIRL And was she ever frightened Or was her love too strong? And did she know she'd end up In our story and our song? ALL Our story and out song... ALL Some say: STORYTELLER What happened when Ti Moune finally reached the city! ALL Some say: TWO STORYTELLERS Some say they laughed at her For her peasant feet were bare ALL Some say: TWO STORYTELLERS Some say the vendor man Gave her shoes too small to wear ALL Some say: STORYTELLER The gods said put on the shoes! It's a price you have to pay! ALL The shoes were tight But she said, LITTLE GIRL All right! ALL Well, that's what some say! Some say! STORYTELLER At last Ti Moune arrived at the gates of the Hotel Beauxhomme. GUARD Stop! STORYTELLER But the gods looked down. The gates swung open. And Ti Moune went in search of her Daniel. ALL Some say... WOMAN Some say she Scrubbed the Floors Till she learned Where he was Kept Some say... MAN Some say she Climbed a vine To the window Where he slept WOMAN Some say... WOMAN, MAN The gods just Lifted her up And placed her Where he lay ALL Well, no one Knows how the Real truth goes It all depends What you hear From friends It's no surprise It it's all Just lies But that's what Some say That's what Some say That's what Some say... That's what Some say... TI MOUNE The gods sent me to make you well. DANIEL You're very young TI MOUNE I can all this way to be with you. Let me stay

"Waiting for Life" Video

Here is the video link from today's class: La Chanze, who originated the role of Ti Moune on Broadway, singing "Waiting for Life" from a concert-style reenactment of Once On This Island --

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCj8B5aLnvs

The Gods...

Be sure to look up the gods Agwe and Erzulie on Wikipedia because both of these are also names of gods in Haitian Voodoo religion.

Interestingly, we talked about the different sides of Erzulie in class today, and she has many facets -- she can be associated with a mother figure as well as a siren/temptress figure like Mami Wata from African religions.

These connections are important to explore as much as we have explored their potential counterpoints from Greek and Roman mythology.