BOYS
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We're here in school today to get a perfect education,
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Yes, we're going up.
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We're keen to learn the rules and laws that civilization taught us
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Yes, we're growing up.
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Not for ourselves, B
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but for the whole world were we born.
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And we were born in Liverpool.
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Our teachers say that ignorance will always drag us down,
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It's like a nagging cough.
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SHANTY (thrown away)
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But I can say that looking back,
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The most important thing I found was sagging off!
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Not for the whole world.
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But for yourself were you born.
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And you were...
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SHANTY and BOYS
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Born in Liverpool.
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BOYS
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Not Birmingham
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Nor Edinburgh.
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Not Manchester
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Or Sunderland.
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SHANTY
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Being born where you were born
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Carries with it certain responsibilities.
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BOYS
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This school is good for us.
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SHANTY
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This school is only good for those
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Who want to learn from books.
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You'll lose your sense of purpose...
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BOYS
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But we dare not answer back,
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We're scared of teacher's looks.
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Not for ourselves,
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But for the whole world were we born.
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And we were born in Liverpool.
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SHANTY
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Not Coventry
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HEADMASTER
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Or Solihull.
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BOYS
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Not Scarborough
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SHANTY
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Nor Inverness.
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Being born where you were born
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Carries with it certain responsibilities.
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HEADMASTER
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Walk in single file out of the classroom,
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Down the stairs and into the playground.
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BOYS
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Through the school gates,
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Cross the road, and over the cemetery fence,
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Down the hill to where the grave-stones
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Lie inviting in the sun.
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Settle down.
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Settle down.
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Let the afternoon slip by.
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Settle down.
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Settle down.
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It's the perfect place for a kip.
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(Shanty falls asleep on a grave-stone and dreams)
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SHANTY
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Kept in confusion,
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Trapped by illusion,
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Thinking of speaking my mind.
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Dreams of the future,
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Ghosts of the past left behind.
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Constantly drifting,
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Endlessly lifting
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More weight than one man can bear.
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Into the future,
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Ghosts of the past everywhere.
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MEN'S CHORUS (ghosts)
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You're sleeping amongst us,
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We're in your dream,
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Who are you?
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Why call us?
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What does this mean?
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Disturbing our slumber,
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You move so fast.
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SHANTY
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Ghosts of the past.
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Tossing and turning,
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Somehow I'm learning
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Secrets I'd rather not know.
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Can't it be simple?
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Why does it have to be so?
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MARY DEE (as ghost)
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I ll always be here,
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I ll never leave you,
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I ll always be in your mind.
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Dreams of the future,
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Ghosts that the past left behind.
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WOMEN S CHORUS (Ghosts)
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You re sleeping amongst us.
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We re in your dream.
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Who are you?
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Why call us?
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What does this mean?
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FULL CHORUS (ghosts)
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Disturbing our slumber,
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You move so fast.
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SHANTY and MARY DEE (as ghost)
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Ghosts of the past.
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(later, back in school)
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HEADMASTER
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Boys, this is your teacher.
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Her name is Miss Inkley.
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She will reach you Spanish.
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She was in the war
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Fighting with the troops.
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You may call her Sir!
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BOYS
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SIR?
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MISS INKLEY
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First of all today
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You will learn a song
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In a foreign tongue.
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You will follow me
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As I say the words.
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We will now begin...
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Tres conejos
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BOYS
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Tres conejos
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MISS INKLEY
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En un arbol
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BOYS
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En un arbol
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MISS INKLEY
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Tocando
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BOYS
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Tocando
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MISS INKLEY
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El tambor
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BOYS
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El tambor.
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MISS INKLEY
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Que si
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BOYS
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Que si
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MISS INKLEY
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Que no
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BOYS
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Que no
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MISS INKLEY
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Que si. Lo he visto yo.
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HEADMASTER
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Ahem!
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MISS INKLEY
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Tres conejos
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En un arbol
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Tocando
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El tambor.
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Que si
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Que no
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Que si.
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Lo he visto yo.
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SHANTY and BOYS
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Tres conejos
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En un arbol
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Tocando
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El tambor.
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Que si
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Que no
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Que si.
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Lo he visto yo.
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BOYS
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Tres conejos
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MISS INKLEY
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Three rabbits
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BOYS
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En un arbol
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MISS INKLEY
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In a tree
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BOYS
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Tocando
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MISS INKLEY
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Playing
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BOYS
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El tambor
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MISS INKLEY
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The drum.
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BOYS
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Que si
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MISS INKLEY
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Why yes
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BOYS
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Que no
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MISS INKLEY
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Why no
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BOYS
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Que si. Lo he visto yo.
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MISS INKLEY
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Why yes. I have seen it,
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HEADMASTER
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Ahem!
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Tres conejos
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En un arbol
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Tocando
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SHANTY and HEADMASTER
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El tambor.
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HEADMASTER
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Que si
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SHANTY
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Que si
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MISS INKLEY
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Que...
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ALL
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No.
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Que si
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Lo he visto yo.
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BOYS and CHORUS
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Not for |