Addison's City Songtext
von Stephen Sondheim

[[Hollis
That′s what I wanted, a city for artists,
Versailles by the Florida sea.
A kind of haven for hundreds of artists,
And their great patron saint would be me!
And then I meet Willie--
And he says to me,
"Look what Addie's done,
And he′s just begun!
Why be saint to hundreds?
Be saint to one!
Think what he can do--!"
Think what we can do.
You'll design a city, Addie,
Like no city ever seen before.
Think of it: a city, Addie,
Every single window, every door--
You could build a Paris, Addie,
But Paris made anew,
A Paris for today.


[[Wilson
Paris, U.S.A.--
[[Hollis
A Paris made by you--
Addison's city.
[[Wilson
Venice and jazz combined--
[[Hollis
Addison′s city.
[[Wilson
Every last stick and stone designed
By the same screwy, brilliant mind--
[[Both
Addison′s city.
[[Hollis
Newport with fizz--
[[Wilson
Rio with shade--
[[Hollis
Capri as it is,
But not so staid.
[[Wilson
Not so much a city--a parade!
[[Both
Addison's city!
[[Wilson
The time is now,
The place isnow,
Your chance to do what you
Were born to do
Is now.
A chance like this will never come again,
Believe me,
Embrace it now.
[[Hollis
Come on, what do you think?
[[Addison
I think my brother would say anythin to get what
He wants.
[[Hollis
Addie, he′s not--
[[Addison
All right, don't push me.
[[Wilson
The moment′s now.
The door is wide.
An opportunity
That mustn't be
Denied.
Don′t muff it now.
[[Nellie
What's there to muff? He's got everything he wants as it is.
[[Wilson
Then it′s time to want something else.
He should build a city, Countess.
Not just fancy forts for rich old farts.
[[Hollis
Much more than a city, Countess,
More like an amalgam of the arts.
Something international but bold--
[[Wilson
Everything too much.
[[Hollis
European verve--
[[Wilson
New York City nerve--
[[Hollis
Only with the Mizner touch--
[[Both
Addison′s city!
[[Hollis
It really is a marvelous idea!
[[Nellie
Yeah? Consider the source.
[[Wilson
You too, Countess.
Your chance is now.
You hear that sound?
I mean your chance to bounce,
Not merely bounce around.
You think it's all just men
And money and martinis.
You know what you need?
[[Nellie
What?
[[Wilson
Boca Raton--
Six hundred acres of prime, undeveloped real estate
Wrapped around an inlet up the coast. An adventure, boys
And girls. And it′s a perfect fit--
You make it up--
You make it real.
You make us a sweetheart of a deal.
Everybody gets to spin the wheel!
[[Nellie
Yeah? What do you get?
[[Wilson
A chance for now,
To make amends.
[[Addison
Oh, God.
[[Wilson
A chance to ditch the blues
And pay my dues
To friends.
And if I chance to make a buck or two
Along the way, and so do you,
Why not?
[[Hollis
Why not?
[[Nellie
Why not?
[[Addison
Why not?!
[[Wilson
Oh, come on, Addie--
The four of us together, what fun!
[[Hollis
Say yes!
[[Wilson
You and me against the world, brother,
You and me against the world!
You and me together,
But in very different weather--
Now
It's pretty.
[[Wilson and Hollis
Don′t you want to build a city?
Your chance is now.
Don't settle in.
[[Hollis, Wilson and Nellie
You′re wasting time
When what you are
Is what you've been.
This city's something new,
A door into
The future--
The future′s now.
[[Wilson
Gotta make tracks!
[[Nellie
Gotta make hay!
[[Hollis
Gotta take a risk and seize the day!
[[All Three
Gotta travel on--
[[Addison
All right, okay!
[[Wilson, Hollis and Nellie
The time is now,
The place is here,
This is our chance to open up a new frontier,
[[All
And if there was a time to pioneer,
The time is now!