Almost Real Jason Robert Brown (Ft. Kelli O'Hara)

[FRANCESCA]
When a girl grows up in Napoli
There are roads laid out before her
And you understand, I'm speaking of
The times before the war
When a girl grows up in Napoli
She is more or less a target
For her mamma's expectations
For the boys' infatuations;
All she gets is one decision:
Will she give them what they want?

My sister Chiara wore tight-fitting sweaters
Unbuttoned just so
Chiara would squeeze ev'ry drop of attention
Wherever she'd go
Chiara said, "'Cesca, you must be prepared."
Chiara would act as though nobody cared
Chiara would laugh at me, quiet and scared…

And I dreamed of a flat in Siena
On the market square
With a book and a pot and a window
And a single chair—
Far from lonesome
Far from Chiara
Almost real