Once and For All

[Jack:]

There's change coming once and for all

You makes the front page and man, you is major news

[Jack & Davey:]

Tomorrow they'll see what we are

[Jack, Davey & Katherine:]

And sure as a star, we ain't come this far...

To lose

[Race:]

Here they come!

[Ensemble:]

This is the story we needed to write

As we kept out of sight, but no more

In a few hours by dawns early light

We'll be ready to fight us a war

This time we're in it to stay

Talk about seizing the day

[Jack:]

Write it in ink or in blood

It's the same either way

They're gonna damn well pay!

[Ensemble:]

See old man Pulitzer snug in his bed

He don't care if we're dead or alive

Three satin pillows are under his head

While we's begging for bread to survive

Joe, you can stop counting sheep

We're gonna sing ya to sleep

You've got your thugs with their sticks and their slugs

Yeah! but we got a promise to keep!

[Jack:]

Once and for all if they don't find their manners

We'll bleed 'em!

[Ensemble:]

Bleed 'em!

[Race:]

Once and for all we won't carry no banners that don't spell freedom!

[Ensemble:]

Finally we's raising the stakes

This time whatever it takes!

This time the union awakes, once and for all!

[Jack:]

Come on, boys!

[Ensemble:]

Yeah!

This is for kids shining shoes on the street

With no shoes on their feet everyday

This is for guys sweating blood in the shops

While their bosses and cops look away

I'm seeing kids standing tall

Glaring and raring to brawl

Armies of guys who are sick of the lies

Getting ready to rise to the call!

Once and for all there'll be blood on the wall if they doubt us

They think they're running this town

But this town will shut down without us

Ten thousand kids in the square

(Ten thousand kids in the square)

Ten thousand fists in the air!

(Ten thousand fists)

Joe, you is gonna play fair, once and for all!

Once and for all! (once and for all)

Once and for all!! (once and for all)

Once and for all!!! (once and for all)

There's change coming once and for all

You're getting too old, too weak to keep holding on

A new world is gunning for you, and Joe, we is too!

'Til once and for all you're gone!

[Davey:]

Once and for all!

[Jack:]

Once and for all!

[Ensemble:]

Once and for all!

[Jack:]

Once and for all!