Singing comes cheap (to those who do not pay)

After Pamela told Tyler all she knows about his father, Tyler returns to the main room, where Anthony and his friends are having a rave of a party. Anthony is drunk and swears at Pamela for not bringing drinks fast enough.

Tyler has to control his temper and turns around again and enters the kitchen. Melissa notice Tyler's mood and follows him into the kitchen. Melissa starts the next song.

Track: Singing comes cheap
Album: Unpublished (From the musical, The exile)
Artist: Eric Swardt

Melissa

(1a)

I hope you will not be offended

by what I am about to say
for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay
and all this is done at the cost
of one who has done so much
to dedicate his life so we can be free today

In the first verse Melissa addresses Tyler about the bad behaviour of Anthony and his friends.

Tyler

(2b)

If this man here were to see

my father come back to me
he would pray for longer legs
to carry him away

(3b)

And soon you all will see

my father coming back to me
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

Tyler states that he wish his father to return.

Melissa

(4c)

Your father is still far away

Some doom is keeping him in that place
against his own will
a prisoner of ill fate
I do not know if this ends well
It is your story that you have to tell
It's in your hands
to make your father come home

Melissa is the one who points out to Tyler that his father is not about to come back all by himself. It is up to Tyler to take control of the situation.

Tyler

(5b)

If he really loves this country

so much that all can see
he would pray for the first plane
to come back home again

Tyler is considering Melissa's words and contemplates that Hugo must surely be wanting to come back to South Africa. After all, he has been fighting for the freedom of the land and he is a national hero.

(6b)

Anthony just wait

soon we'll set things straight
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

Now he addresses Anthony (who is drunk and rowdy in the other room) and states that he will set thing straight. Tyler is kicking into action.

(7a)

I wish I knew where he is

and if he think about me
I wonder if he will
come back if I ask him
And some will say he is their hero great
but to me he is just a name
He left us all alone
without a house or home

(8b)

I know not what chains of steel

is holding him away from me
Far away all while this man
is feasting on my land

(9b)

I wish my father could stand

here to give me a helping hand
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

Now that Tyler has made up his mind that he will do something, he starts to think about how he is to do it. He wants to find Hugo, but he has no idea where to start.

Melissa

(10c)

To me it seems you do

want your father to come back to you
It is in your hands
to ask him to return
You know that you can be free
from your mother's and your misery
It's in you fate
to go and make yourself a name

(11b)

Just get up and be on your way

There is so much more to gain
My father was there
on that day when they went away

Melissa states her support for Tyler. Melissa is the daughter of Neil, who also went into exile. Neil returned to South Africa after the democratic elections and now has a senior job as a member of parlaiment in the new government. Melissa is suggesting that this could be a good place to start looking for Hugo.

Tyler

(12b)

And soon you all will see

my father coming back to me
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

(13b)

So Anthony you'll see

this house will soon be free
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

Melissa has given Tyler hope. He is now determined to follow up on the lead that Melissa has given him.