Ragtime - Nothing Like the City Lyrics

Broadway production 1998
Ragtime the Musical - Nothing Like the City Lyrics

"Nothing Like the City" is a song from musical Ragtime performed by Marin Mazzie (Mother), Alex Strange (Edgar), Peter Friedman (Tateh), and Lea Michele (Little Girl).

[TATEH]
Mister, please, where is this?

[CONDUCTOR]
You're in New Rochelle. You can atke the rope off her.
This ain't the city.

[LITTLE BOY]
Mother!

[MOTHER]
I see! I see! He's afraid of losing her. Immigrants
are terrified of losing their children. So are we but
just not so conspicuously. Don't stare. It's not
polite to stare.

[TATEH]
He's a rude little boy. Ignore him. poeople of good
breeding do not stare at other people.
They acknowledge
htem politley with a bow... like this.

Good day.

[MOTHER]
Good day, sir.

[TATEH]
She called me "sir."
Without a doubt,
We're really out
Of New York City!

[MOTHER]
Fine weather, isn't it?

[TATEH]
Isn't it?
Now that we're out of the city,
Isn't it?

[BOTH]
Nothing like the city...

[LITTLE GIRL]
He's still staring.

[TATEH]
Never mind.

[LITTLE BOY]
My father's at the North Pole,
With Admiral Peary and eskimos!
Where is your mother?

[LITTLE GIRL]
Dead.

[MOTHER]
Edgar!

[LITTLE BOY]
My name is Edgar. We're off
To visit out foreworks factory.
What is your name?

[LITTLE GIRL]
No name.

[LITTLE BOY]
That's impossible.
Everyone had a name,
Even the little Negro baby
Who lives in our attic!!!

[MOTHER]
Sshh. Do not be rude!
He talks.

[LITTLE BOY]
I never knew anyone
Who stayed on a rope
Like a puppy dog.
What does it feel like?

[TATEH]
I see that.

[LITTLE GIRL]
Safe.

[MOTHER]
He also stares.

[LITTLE BOY]
Safe?

[MOTHER]
You'd think
He'd never
Seen someone
From New York City

[LITTLE GIRL]
Yes.

[LITTLE BOY]
Everyone's safe
In New Rochelle.

[TATEH]
That's children,
Isn't it?

[LITTLE GIRL]
Safe?

[MOTHER]
Isn't it?

[LITTLE BOY]
Yes.

[BOTH]
Always another surprise,
Isn't it?

[CONDUCTOR]
Boston Post Road trolley! Boston!

[MOTHER]
Well.

[TATEH]
Well.
Have a pleasant day, ma'am.

[MOTHER]
Have a pleasant trip, sir...

[MOTHER & TATEH]
Nothing like the city...

[CONDUCTOR]
Mamaroneck! All aboard for Mamaroneck!

[LITTLE BOY]
We know those peopl.

[MOTHER]
That's ridiculous. They're poor foreigners.

[LITTLE BOY]
Then we're going to know them.

[MOTHER]
Who put such thoughts in your head?

Ragtime the Musical Nothing Like the City Lyrics


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Nothing Like the City Lyrics Ragtime the Musical


Ragtime the Musical Lyrics

SYNOPSIS
Prologue
Goodbye My Love
Journey On
The Crime of the Century
What Kind of Woman
A Shtetl Iz Amereke
Success
His Name Is Coalhouse Walker
Getting' Ready Rag
Henry Ford
Nothing Like the City
Your Daddy's Son
The Courtship
New Music
Wheels of a Dream
The Night That Goldman Spoke at Union Square
Gliding
The Trashing of the Car
Justice
President
Till We Reach That Day
Harry Houdini Master Escapist
Coalhouse's Soliloquy
Coalhouse Demands
What a Game
Fire in the City
Atlantic City
Buffalo Nickel Photoplay, Inc.
Our Children
Harlem Nightclub
Sarah Brown Eyes
He Wanted to Say
Back to Before
Look What You've Done
Make Them Hear You
Wheels of a Dream (reprise)