Stephen Sondheim Next Lyrics

[EMPEROR MEIJI, spoken]
I am the Emperor Meiji. Rise and listen. Rise! In the name of progress, we will turn our backs on ancient ways, eliminate all obstacles which hinder our development, we will make the nation over, and we will do it sooner than you think!

[COMPANY]
Streams are flowing
See what's coming
Next!

Winds are blowing
See what's coming
See what's going
Next!

Roads are turning
Journey with them
A little learning
Next!

Waters churning
Lightning flashes
Kings are burning
Sift the ashes
Next!

Tower tumbles
Tower rises
Next!

Tower crumbles
Man revises
Motor rumbles
Civilizes
More surprises
Next!

Learn the lesson
From the master
Add the sugar
Spread the plaster
Do it nicer
Do it faster
Next!

[MEIJI, spoken]
The practical bird
Having no tree of its own
Borrows another's

[COMPANY]
Streams are roaring
Overspilling
Next!

Old is boring
New is thrilling
Keep exploring
Next!

First the thunder
Just a murmur
A little blunder
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Then the wonder
See how pretty!
Going under
What a pity!
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Streams are flying
Use the motion
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Streams are drying
Mix a potion
Streams are dying
Try the ocean
Brilliant notion
Next!

Never mind a small disaster
Who's the stronger, who's the faster? Let the pupil show the master
Next!
Next!

[A VOICE, spoken]
There are 223 Japan Airline ticket offices in 153 cities throughout the world

[ALL]
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[ANOTHER VOICE, spoken]
There are 8 Toyota dealerships in the city of Detroit, and Seiko watch is the third best selling watch in Switzerland

[ALL]
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[THIRD VOICE, spoken]
57% of the Bicentennial souvenirs sold in Washington, D.C. in 1975 were made in Japan

[ALL]
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[FOURTH VOICE, spoken]
This year Japan will export 16 million kilograms monosodium glutamate, and 400,000 tons polyvinyl chloride resin

[ALL]
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[FIFTH VOICE, spoken]
From the Ministry of Health: By 1978 some of the beaches on the Inland Sea will be re-opened for public bathing

[ALL]
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[SIXTH VOICE, spoken]
1975 Weather Bureau statistics report 162 days on which the air quality in Tokyo was acceptable

[ALL]
Next!

Never mind a small disaster
Who's the stronger, who's the faster?
Let the pupil show the master
Next!

[MEIJI, spoken]
Nippon: the Floating Kingdom
There was a time when foreigners were not welcome here. But that was long ago: a hundred and twenty years
Welcome to Japan

[ALL]
Next! Next!
Brilliant notions
Still improving
Next! Next!
Make the motions
Keep it moving
Next!
Next!
Next!