Grammy-winning jazz musician and composer Terence Blanchard’s adaptation of Charles M. Blow’s memoir marks the Met’s first performance of an opera by a Black composer and its first production back in its theater following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Featuring a libretto by filmmaker Kasi Lemmons, the opera tells the story of a young man’s journey to overcome a life of trauma and hardship.
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TRANSCRIPT
♪♪♪♪ He has to bleed, he has to die...♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ Bullets, blood, and death! ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ Prepare to die! ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ There once was a boy of peculiar grace...♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ A dangerous existence for a man of his race ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ A boy of peculiar grace. I'll go north. I'll make my way ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ Nothing can stop me, no reason to stay! ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ The South is no place for a boy with peculiar grace. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ I see you flirtin', Spinner. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ I know you ain't tryin' to flirt while I got a cleaver in my hand. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ Only legs and thighs I need right here ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ Will you quit? I reek ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ Not to me, you still smell sweet. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ I tol you! She on him like a cat scratching its behind. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ I can see for myself, Verna. I ain't blind! ♪♪♪ Ruby! I hope you good with yo maker, gal...cuz you bout ta die!
[screams and shouts] ♪♪♪ What is the motto of the fraternity you are pledging?
'Achievement in every field of human endeavor!'
I didn't hear a 'sir.' Did you hear a 'sir'? ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ We sway. We sway! Our roots run deep. ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ We draw our strength from underneath ♪♪♪ ♪♪♪♪ We bend, we don't break. We sway! ♪♪♪
