Breathe lyrics

[PIRAGUA GUY]

Sigue andando el camino por toda su vida

Respira...

[NINA]

Breathe.

[COMMUNITY]

Y si pierdes mis huellas que dios te bendiga

Respira.

[NINA]

This is my street

I smile at the faces

I’ve known all my life

They regard me with pride

And everyone’s sweet

They say, “You’re going places!’

So how can I say that while I was away

I had so much to hide!

“Hey guys, it’s me!

The biggest disappointment you know.”

The kid couldn’t hack it

She’s back and she’s walkin’ real slow

Welcome home

Just breathe...

[NINA]

Just breathe—

[COMMUNITY]

Sigue andando el camino por toda su vida

Respira—

Y si pierdes mis huellas que dios te bendiga

Respira—

[NINA]

As the radio plays old forgotten boleros

I think of the days when this city was mine

I remember the praise

[NINA]

“Ay, te adoro, te quiero,”

The neighborhood waved, and

Said, “Nina, be brave and

You’re gonna be fine!”

And maybe it’s me

But it all seems like lifetimes ago

[COMMUNITY]

Te adoro

Te quiero

Respira!

Respira!

[NINA]

So what do I say to these faces that I used to know?

“Hey, I’m home?”

[NEIGHBOR LADY]

Mira Nina

[NINA]

Hey…

[COMMUNITY]

No me preocupo por ella

[NINA]

They’re not worried about me

[COMMUNITY]

Mira, allí esta nuestra estrella!

[NINA]

They are all counting on me to succeed

[COMMUNITY]

Ella sí da la talla!

[NINA]

I am the one who made it out!

The one who always made the grade

But maybe I should have just stayed home…

When I was a child I stayed wide awake

Climbed to the highest place

On every fire escape

Restless to climb

I got every scholarship

Saved every dollar

The first to go to college

How do I tell them why

I’m coming back home?

With my eyes on the horizon.

[COMMUNITY]

Ah! Ah, aah…

Mira Nina

Respira…

Respira…

Ah!

[NINA]

Just me and the GWB, asking, “Gee Nina, what’ll you be?"

Straighten the spine

Smile for the neighbors

Everything’s fine

Everything’s cool

The standard reply:

“Lots of tests, lots of papers.”

Smile, wave goodbye

And pray to the sky, oh, god…

And what will my parents say?

[COMMUNITY]

Nina…

[NINA]

Can I go in there and say

[COMMUNITY]

Nina…

[NINA]

“I know that I’m letting you down…”

[ABUELA CLAUDIA]

Nina…

[NINA]

Just breathe...