A Sweet Thing Like Me

You’re so big
'N' you’re so strong
You’re so tough
'N' you’re so tall
You’re so rough
'N' you’re so hard
You’re so big
'N' I’m so small
Now you wouldn’t wanna give me trouble
You wouldn’t wanna treat me bad
You wouldn’t wanna hurt a sweet thing like me
Now wouldja?
Well, wouldja?
Nah, we’re only playin' here, ain’t we?
(A shoulderstrap drops.)
Takes your mind off the soup kitchens, huh?
(Something else drops.)
Makes you forget about this little ole depression?
(Something else drops.)
I know how to do it, don’t I? 'Cause I was born right here in Chicago!
Federal Street, uh-huh! Spent my whole life in training for Harry Earle’s
Burlesque! Where everybody’s only playin'!
But you got needs —
You got ideas
You get here
'N' you get hot
You got ways
To get your way
You got needs
For what I got
But you wouldn’t wanna give me trouble
You wouldn’t wanna treat me bad
You wouldn’t wanna hurt a sweet thing like me
Oh, no
Oh, no
Oh, no
Look-a-me, look-a-me
'At's what I’m here for
Gettin' your hunger on
Gettin' you sweaty
Gettin' you set
And then I’m gettin' gone
Look-a-me, look-a-me, look-a-me
'At's right
Everyone gets to share
'N' I’ll be okay
So long as I stay up here
And you stay there
(A sly glance at audience.)
You too much for one little girl!
I need a little help out here!
(Tab curtains part, revealing the four black CHORUS GIRLS.)
How you been?
We been real good
How you feel?
We feel real good
Yes, we know
Just how you been
Yes, we know
Just how you feel
(They dance and strip, playing the audience. They, the GIRLS and SATIN,
sing simultaneously:)
How you been?
We been real good
How you feel?
We feel real good
Yes, we know
Just how you been
Yes, we know
Just how you feel
Yeah, you can look
But you can’t touch
Y’hear me?
Y’hear me?
Yeah, we stay here
And you stay there
Y’hear me?
Y’hear me?
Yeah, we’ll play nice
Yeah, we won’t fight
We’ll just play nice
We’ll play real nice
Y’hear me?
Y’hear me?
Y’hear me?
'Cause you wouldn’t wanna give me trouble
You wouldn’t wanna treat me bad
You wouldn’t wanna hurt a sweet
Sweet
Sweet
Sweet
Sweet thing like
(Simultaneously:)
Me
No you wouldn’t!
No you wouldn’t
Really hurt
A sweet thing like me!