The Fabric of America by The Rags: The Musical Original London Cast Recording Company Lyrics

[Jack, spoken]
Alright, let's work. Time is money

[sung]
They say a day has twenty-four hours
But that's a bluff
A day has twelve dresses
Twelve of these dresses
Until we make twelve, it ain't enough
So we each got a job we gotta do
I'll go through it once, just once
For those here who are new...

So, first is the baster
Now, Bella, that's you
Stitch one piece wrong, it's a wreck
Assemble the garment
Remembering you are meant
To make sure the sleeve ain't the neck

[Bella]
The baster...
[Jack]
And then comes the stitcher
Who works the machine

[Ben]
That's me!
Finally!
Hurrah!

[Jack]
Mister "Hurrah," hey
Don't think you're so grand
Just try to see
You don't sew through your hand

[Bella, Ben, Both]
The baster
The stitcher
Together we work

[All]
The fabric of America

[Ben and Bella]
Stitch, pedal, stitch
Stitch, pedal, stitch
Stitch, pedal, stitch
Stitch, pedal, stitch
[Jack, Rebecca]
The finisher's next -
And I guess that means me
Wait! There's some lessons you'll need
Like this is -
The panels
And this is -
The lining
The sleeves and the gussets
Proceed

And finally the presser
The key job of all
That's why I do it

[Anna]
Jack, sha!
I keep the coals hot
As hot coals can get

[Jack]
This is a sweatshop where you really sweat

[All]
So put us together
And that's how we make
The fabric of America
[Jack, spoken]
Where did you learn to sew like this?

[Bella, spoken]
I told you!

[Bella, Anna, Both]
Look how she sews
Such laces and bows
When Bronfman sees those
Incredible clothes
He'll say a loud
"Hallelujah!"

[All]
Ahhhh!
So look at us here
You could say that we're
(We're/we're/we're/we're)
We're
The fabric of America
Stitch, pedal, stitch
Stitch, pedal, stitch
Stitch, pedal, stitch, pedal -

[Jack, spoken]
You're hired. Welcome to our little sweatshop!