[ Featuring Anaïs Mitchell, Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Kimberly Marable, Ahmad Simmons, Afra Hines, Timothy Hughes, John Krause ]
If it's true what they say
If there's nothing to be done
If it's true that it's too late
And the girl I love is gone
If it's true, what they say
Is this how the world is?
To be beaten and betrayed
And then be told that nothing changes
It'll always be like this
If it's true, what they say
I'll be on my way
And the boy turned to go
'Cause he thought no one could hear
But everybody knows that walls have ears
And the workers heard him (if it's true, what they say)
With their hammers swingin' (what's the purpose of a man?)
And they quit their workin' (just to turn his eyes away)
But they heard him singin' (just to throw up both his hands)
No hammer swingin' (what's the use of his backbone?)
No pickaxe ringin' (if he never stands upright?)
And they stood and listened (if he turns his back on everyone?)
To the poor boy singin' (that he could've stood beside?)
If it's true, what they say
I'll be on my way
But who are they to say
What the truth is anyway?
'Cause the one's who tell the lies
Are the solemnest to swear
And the one's who load the dice
Always say the toss is fair
And the one's who deal the cards (deal the cards)
Are the one's who take the tricks
With their hands over their hearts
While we play the games they fix
And the ones who speak the words (speak the words)
Always say it is the last
And no answer will be heard
To the question no one asks
So I'm asking if it's true
I'm asking me and you, and you, and you
I believe our answer matters more than anything they say
We stand and listen
I believe if there is still a will then there is still a way
We're standing with him
I believe there is a way
I believe in us together
More than anyone alone
We're standing near him (near him)
I believe that with each other we are stronger than we know
We hear him
I believe we're stronger than they know
I believe that we are many
I believe that they are few
We're standing (standing, standing)
And it isn't for the few to tell the many what is true
We understand him
So I ask you
If it's true, what they say (we're standing)
I'll be on my way (we're standing)
Tell me what to do (we're standing)
Is it true?
Is it true what they say?
