Soft Power - Fuxing Park Lyrics

2019 Off-Broadway
Soft Power the Musical - Fuxing Park Lyrics

The song is written by David Henry Hwang & Jeanine Tesori.

XUE XING: (spoken)
This is your chance to write for your own people!

DHH: (spoken)
I'm not Chinese

XUE XING: (spoken)
Your father was from Shanghai

DHH:
My father
My father, was strong. He was tough
Full of pride
He turned his back on his past as he tried
To belong in America
To be free in America
So at home we spoke English alone
Chinese New Year was strange and unknown
Because I'm an American
I am free in America

XUE XING: (spoken)
And your father never came back?
Shanghai has changed so much!
We're building a theater inside Fuxing Park!

DHH: (spoken)
Wait, when he got sick,
Dad kept talking about a place called Fuxing Park

XUE XING:
10,000 trees

DHH: (spoken)
He said it was his favorite spot

XUE XING:
Or maybe more

DHH: (spoken)
As a kid

XUE XING:
Shaded paths that seem to stretch to the sea

DHH:
The place where he felt free
Free

XUE XING:
With couples dancing
Ballroom dancing
Shaded meadows for practicing Tai Chi

DHH:
So free
(spoken)
He said in his whole life
it was the only place he could just be himself

XUE XING: (spoken)
So what happened to your father over here?

DHH (spoken):
He became a big success

(sung)
My father
My father wore a suit.
The finest he could buy
The banker Mr. Henry Hwang
But every now and then,
There'd be some passing guy
Who muttered the same old song:
"Ching chong!
Ching chong! Ching chong!"

XUE XING: (spoken)
David, I think you want to work in China!

DHH:
10,000 trees

XUE XING:
Yes, you are dutiful

DHH:
Or maybe more

XUE XING:
You are Chinese

DHH:
Shaded paths that seem
to stretch to the sea

XUE XING:
You are Chinese

DHH:
The place where he felt free
Free

BOTH:
Free

XUE XING:
Fuxing Park

DHH:
Fuxing Park

BOTH:
Fuxing Park

Soft Power the Musical Lyrics

Dutiful
Welcome to America
Fuxing Park
I'm With Her
It Just Takes Time
Election Night
I Am
Song of the Campaign
Happy Enough
Good Guy with A Gun
The New Silk Road
Democracy
Democracy (reprise)