Find a Way Songtext
von Shaina Taub

Oh!
Alice?
Lucy, thank God!
I got your telegram and came
As soon as I could
What′s the emergency?

The first protest march ever held
In our nation's capital
(Today?)
Two months from today
So there′s no time to waste
Welcome to our new office (ah!)
You're a member of the suffrage march planning committee
(Holy cow! How many in it?)
Counting you?
(Don't say two) Two

But Alice, we′re not in college anymore
We′ve never planned a national action before


Nope
How will we do it when it's never been done?
How will we find a way where there isn′t one?
How will we find a way
Find a way
We've got to find a way
Find a way

First pursuit is to recruit
Inez Milholland
(The Inez Milholland?)
The papers call her glamorous
Dazzling
All the things I′m not
We need a public face
It's gotta be Inez Milholland

I′m Alice Paul
And this is my best friend Lucy Burns

We were field hockey teammates at Swarthmore
(Offense!) Defense!

Wow. Okay, sporty
Why don't we have a smoke?

Oh yes, we adore cigarettes
It's really nice!


We want you to be the grand marshal
Of our suffrage march
(Ms. Paul, I′m far too busy with the bar)
She′d rather get liquored
Than fight for our liberty
(I'm studying for the bar exam)
Oh, that′s marvelous!

We could use your legal skills
To procure our permit
This march is unprecedented
(How so?)
It's on Pennsylvania Avenue (oh)
The day before the inauguration (ooh)
We′ll make every front page
With a picture of you leading the pack
(On horseback) What?

I should be riding
My steed should be white
A feminine reclaiming of the armored knight

Of course!
Where the hell are we getting a horse?

How will we do it when it's never been done?
How will we find a way where there isn′t one?
How will we find a way
Find a way
We've got to find a way
Find a way

I want you to meet someone
(A socialite)
A socialist
Ruza Wenclawska
(Ruza Wenclawska)

My fellow workers, we must strike!
(Came from Poland when she was seven)
We must strike for safe conditions!
(Worked in a mill since she was eleven)

This is her fight too
Not just us fortunate few
They'll listen to her
(Strike!)
Not to you
(Strike! Strike! Strike!)

That was a great speech

Ruza
This is Alice Paul, from the suffrage movement

Suffrage is votes for women

I′m Polish. Not stupid
Look
I want no part of your polite little suffragette parlor games

Well, that′s perfect
Because when we take on a tyrant
We burn him down

So how do we afford a march?

How will we do it when it's never been done?
How will we find a way where there isn′t one?
How will we find a way
Find a way
We've got to find a way
Find a way

Get up on this soapbox! (Ooh!)
Stand there
(But no one′s here)
Gotta start somewhere

Women of the country
How long must women wait for liberty?
How long (how long must we wait)
Must we wait (must we wait)
Must we wait
Must we wait

Join us in a march
On March third
Give some money!
Spread the word!
Give more money!
Make your voice heard

How will we do it when it's never been done?
(How will we do it when it′s never been done?)
How will we find a way where there isn't one?
How will we find a way
Find a way (how will we find a way)
We've got to find a way
Find a way

March for our liberty!
(Lucy, who is she?)
Doris Stevens
A student
From Nebraska
She just - showed up

When I heard about your march
I hopped on the next train
I want to help!
Whatever I can do
I wrote up these leaflets, too

So you′re a writer?

Yes sir
Ma′am
Yes I am!

Congratulations on your new job
(What?)
You're our secretary now
Keep a record

February first: Doris Stevens named secretary!

How will we do it when it′s never been done?
How will we find a way where there isn't one?

February second
A meeting with Officer Sylvester
(It′s Major Sylvester!)
Major, we need a permit for a protest on the third of March
(I don't have cops to spare for a ladies′ parade!)

I just hate for my father to hear you
Deny me my constitutional right
(Father?)
Senator Dwight
Chair of the law enforcement treasury
You know
The man who signs your paycheck

You can have your doggone permit
Now get the heck out of my sight!
(Thank you, Officer)
Major!

Is he really your father?

I used to date his son

How will we do it when it's never been done?
How will we find a way where there isn't one?

One week to go
(Numbers?)
26 floats
Nine brigades
A delegation from all forty-eight states
Two hundred marshals
Ten marching bands
Representatives from -
Thirty
Thirty universities

Contingents from fifteen professions
Oh! And the dancers for the pageant
So we′re at one - wait, no. Two
With the crowd depending
Two hundred thousand people attending!

We′re gonna need more pinwheels

Should we all spread out or stick together?
If Inez is up in front (did someone remember to)
Should I be in the middle (get carrots for the) (Where will we be able to)
Alice, are you marching with your college? (horses? Do I start off the singing) (go to the bathroom?)
I don't have a cap and gown (or do I wait for the bugles?) (What happens if it starts to rain?)

We can do it!

How will we do it when it′s never been done?
How will we find a way where there isn't one?

Miss Paul
Ida B. Wells wrote to say she plans to march
(Ida B. who?)
Ida B. Wells
She′s a famous journalist
But - (What?)
Well

We've received letters
From several southern donors
Threatening to pull out if colored women participate
(But we′ve already said they're welcome to participate)
One proposes we tactfully ask
The colored women to withdraw
(Tactfully?)
Others say they must march in back

Let's make a special colored delegation
At the back of the line
No one pulls out
It′ll all be fine

I′m an immigrant, so
Should I march in back, too?

How will we find a way?
Find a way (how will we find a way)
We've got to find a way
Find a way

So you′re this Alice Paul
I've been hearing so much about
(Mrs. Wells!)
Well, you′ve got quite the team (yes!)
(We haven't slept in weeks)
Please
I have four children
I haven′t slept in years

We're glad you're here for the march

I′m not only here for the march
My club has also come to agitate for laws against lynching
My people cannot vote
If they are hanging from trees

We support you (Yes!)

Why have I been told to march in back?

All due respect, but we don′t have a choice
Without the southern women's support
There might be no march

We refuse to be exclusive
So we′ve made a place for you in back

We're concerned for your safety
Should there be an attack

Mary Church Terrell might agree to it, so -

Oh, the one other Black suffragist whose name you know?

You are a brilliant agitator, Ida
Thousands of suffs are arriving in town right now
Should we cancel the endeavor?
(So I′m the one wrecking the endeavor?)
No!
Ida, how about -

I think we all must do whatever it takes
For the march to go on
Even if that means waiting your turn