Leonard Bernstein — IX. Gospel-Sermon: God Said

[PREACHER] God said: “Let there be light.” And there was light [STREET Chorus] God said: “Let there be night.” And there was night [PREACHER] God said: “Let there be day.” And there was day … [STREET Chorus] … day to follow the night [PREACHER] And it was good, brother … [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] And it was good, brother … [PREACHER] And it was good, brother … [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] And it was goddam good [PREACHER] God said: “Let there be storms.” Storms to bring life … [STREET Chorus] … life in all of its forms Forms such as herds … [PREACHER] … herds and gaggles and swarms Swarms that have names … [STREET Chorus] … names and numbers and norms [PREACHER] And it was good, brother … [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] And it was good, brother … [PREACHER] And it was good, brother … [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] And it was goddam good [PREACHER] God said: “Let there be gnats.” Lеt there be sprats … [STREET Chorus] … sprats to gobblе the gnats So that the sprats … [PREACHER] … sprats may nourish the rats Making them fat … [STREET Chorus] … fat, fine food for the cats [PREACHER] And they grew fat, brother … [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] And they grew fat, brother … [PREACHER] All but the gnats, brother … [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] They all grew fearful fat [PREACHER] And God saw it was good [STREET Chorus] God made it be good … [PREACHER] Created it good … [STREET Chorus] Created the gnats … [PREACHER] … gnats to nourish the sprats … [STREET Chorus] … sprats to nourish the rats … [PREACHER] And all for us big fat cats [STREET Chorus] … us cats! [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] Yow! [STREET Chorus] And it was good [FIRST SOLO AND STREET Chorus] God said it’s good to be poor Good men must not be secure; So if we steal from you It’s just to help you stay pure [SOLOIST AND STREET Chorus] And it was good [SECOND SOLO AND STREET Chorus] God said take charge of my zoo I made these creatures for you; So He won’t mind if we Wipe out a species or two [SOLOIST AND STREET Chorus] And it was good [THIRD SOLO AND STREET CHORUS' God said to spread His commands To folks in faraway lands; They may not want us there But, man, it’s out of our hands [SOLOIST AND STREET Chorus] And it was good [FOURTH SOLO AND STREET Chorus] God said that sex should repulse Unless it leads to results; And so we crowd the world Full of consenting adults [SOLOIST AND STREET Chorus] And it was good [FIFTH SOLO AND STREET Chorus] God said it’s good to be meek And so we are once a week; It may not mean a lot But oh, it’s terribly chic [SOLOIST AND STREET Chorus] And it was good [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] God made us the boss God gave us the cross We turned it into a sword To spread the Word of the Lord We use His holy decrees To do whatever we please [STREET Chorus] Yeah! [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] And it was good! Yeah! And it was goddam good! [PREACHER] God said: “Let there be light.” And there was light [STREET Chorus] God said: “Let there be night.” And there was night [PREACHER] God said: “Let there be day.” And there was day … [STREET Chorus] … day to follow the night [PREACHER] And it was good, brother … [PREACHER AND STREET Chorus] And it was good, brother … And it was …