Lyrics: Bertolt Brecht
Music: Kurt Weill
GLUTTONY
Family
We’ve gotten word from Philadelphia,
Anna’s doing well making lots of money.
Her contract has been signed to do a solo turn.
It forbids her ever eating when or what she likes to eat.
Those are hard terms for little Anna
who has always been very greedy.
Oh, if only she does not break her contract.
There’s no market for hippos in Philadelphia.
Every single day they weigh her.
Gaining half an ounce means trouble.
They have principles to stand by.
“It’s a hundred and eighteen that you were signed for;
for the weight agreed we pay!”
Gaining half an ounce means trouble.
More than that would mean disaster!
More than that would surely mean disaster.
But our Anna is not all that stupid.
And she knows a contract is a contract.
So she’ll reason: After all you still can eat like little Anna in Louisiana, Anna.
Crabmeat! Porkchops! Sweet corn! Chicken!
And those golden biscuits spread with honey!
Think of our house in Louisiana!
Look! It’s growing! More and more it needs you!
Therefore curb your craving.
Gluttons will be punished.
Curb your craving, Anna.
Stop it, Anna! Stop it at once!
Gluttons never go to heaven.