On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada / Don’t Cry For Me Argentina

[ANNOUNCER]
People of Argentina!
Your newly elected President—Juan Perón!

[CROWD]
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!

[PERÓN]
Argentinos! Argentinos!
We are all leaders now!
Fighting against our common enemies
Poverty
Social injustice
Foreign domination of our industries
Reaching for our common goals
Our independence
Our dignity
Our pride
Let the world know that our great nation is awakening
And that its heart
Beats in the humble bodies
Of Juan Perón—and
His wife, the first lady of Argentina, Eva Duarte de Perón!

[CROWD]
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!

[CHE, in crowd]
As a mere observer of this tasteless phenomenon
One has to admire the stage management

[CROWD]
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!

[HEAVIES move in on CHE]

[CHE]
There again, perhaps I'm more than a mere observer
Listen to my enthusiasm, gentlemen

[CROWD]
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!

[CHE & CROWD]
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!

[CROWD]
Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón! Perón!
Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita! Evita!

[EVA, appearing on the balcony]
It won't be easy, you'll think it's strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you

I had to let it happen, I had to change
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
So I chose freedom
Running around trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to

Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance

And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions
They're not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me

Don't cry for me Argentina—

[EVA breaks down; the CROWD takes up her tune.]

Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance

Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you
But all you have to do
Is look at me to know
That every word is true

[Applause. EVA goes inside from the balcony.]

Just listen to that!
The voice of Argentina!
We are adored! We are loved!

[OFFICER]
Statesmanship is more than entertaining peasants

[EVA]
We shall see, little man

[CROWD]
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!

[EVA, back on the balcony]
I am only a simple woman who lives to serve Perón
In his noble crusade to rescue his people!
I was once as you are now!
I have taken these riches from the oligarchs
Only for you—for all of you!
One day you will inherit these treasures
Descamisados! When they fire those cannons
When the crowds sing of glory
It is not just for Perón, but for all of us! All of us!

[CROWD]
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!
Evita Perón! La Santa Peronista!

[ARISTOCRATS]
Things have reached a pretty pass
When someone pretty lower-class
Can be respected and admired—

[EVA]
But your despicable class is dead
Look who they are calling for now!