Leonard Bernstein — IV. Confession - 3. Trope: “Easy”

[FIRST BLUES SINGER] Well, I went to the holy man and I confessed Look, I can beat my breast With the best And I’ll say almost anything that gets me Blessed Upon request It’s easy to shake the blame for any crime By trotting out that mea culpa pantomime: “Yes, yes, I’m sad I sinned, I’m bad.” Then go out and do it one more time [SECOND ROCK SINGER] I don’t know where to start There’s so much I could show But how far, Lord, but how far can I go? I don’t know [SECOND BLUES SINGER] If you ask me to join you in some real Good vice Now that might be nice Once or twice But don’t look for sacraments or sacrificе They’re not worth the pricе It’s easy to have yourself a fine affair Your body’s always ready, but your soul’s Not there Don’t count on trust Come love, come lust It’s so easy when you just don’t care [THIRD ROCK SINGER] What I need I don’t have What I have I don’t own What I own I don’t want What I want, Lord, I don’t know [THIRD BLUES SINGER] If you ask me to sing you verse that’s Versatile I’ll be glad to beguile you For a while But don’t look for content beneath the Style Sit back and smile It’s easy for you to dig my jim jam jive And, baby, please observe how neatly I Survive And what could give More positive Plain proof that living is easy when you’re Half alive [ALL THREE ROCK SINGERS] If I could I’d confess Good and loud, nice and slow, Lord [ALL THREE BLUES SINGERS] Easy, easy [CHOIR] Beatam Mariam semper Virginem Precor Beatum Michaelem Archangelum Ideo precor Beatum Joannem Baptistam Sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum Omnes sanctos Et vos, fratres Orare pro me Ad Dominum Deum nostrum [ALL SIX SOLO SINGERS AND DESCANT] What I say I don’t feel What I feel I don’t show What I show isn’t real What is real, Lord, I don’t know No, no, no … I don’t know [FIRST ROCK SINGER] Come on, Lord, if you’re so great Show me how, where to go Show me now, I can’t wait Maybe it’s too late, Lord I don’t know [FIRST BLUES SINGER] Confiteor [CELEBRANT] (speaking) God forgive you [ALL] (speaking) God forgive us all [CELEBRANT] (speaking) God be with you [ALL] (speaking) And with your spirit [CELEBRANT] (speaking) Let us pray