Champagne
Lin-Manuel Miranda & Karen Olivo Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

So I got you a present
I went downtown to get it
Doing anything tonight?

Cleaning

Done for the day
No way

'Cuz we got a date

Okay

Before you board that plane
I owe you a bottle of cold champagne

No

Yeah, cold champagne

Damn, the bottle's all sweaty and everything
You went and got this

Pop the champagne

I don't know if we have coffee cups
Or plastic cups, I think Sonny has the cups

Tonight we're drinking straight from the bottle, Usnavi?

Yeah?

Daniela told me what you did for me
And it's honestly the sweetest thing anyone ever did for me
Now, what can I say or do to possibly repay you for your kindness?

How do you get this gold shit off?

Usnavi!

Yeah!

Before we both leave town!
Before the corner changes and the signs are taken down
Let's walk around the neighborhood and say our goodbyes
Usnavi, are you alright?

I'm fine, I'm tryn'a open this champagne
See the twisty thing is broken
But I'm gonna open this damn champagne!

Lemme see it

No, I got it!

Yo, Usnavi, drop the champagne!

I mean you went to all this trouble to get us a little bubbly

And it's gonna be okay

I'm sorry, it's been a long day

You oughta stay

What?

You can use that money to fix this place

Ha ha, very funny

And it's not like Sonny's got role models

Role models?

Stepping up to the plate

Yo, what are you talking about?

I'm just saying, I think your vacation can wait

Vacation? Vanessa, you're leaving too

I'm going down to West Fourth Street, you can take the A

What are you trying to say?

You're leaving the country, and we're never gonna see you again

What are you trying to say?

You get everyone addicted to your coffee then off you go

Vanessa, I don't know why you're mad at me

I wish I was mad





I'm just too late

Overall Meaning

The song "Champagne" is a duet between Usnavi and Vanessa, the two central characters in the musical "In the Heights." In this scene, Vanessa is about to leave for a summer away from New York City, and Usnavi has gotten her a bottle of champagne as a goodbye present. He hopes to spend the evening with her but ultimately ends up spilling the bottle and confessing his feelings for her. Vanessa is upset because she feels Usnavi is criticizing her decision to leave and referring to her as someone who gets people addicted to her coffee and then leaves. However, she ultimately realizes the depth of his feelings for her and the song ends with Usnavi lamenting that he is too late.


The song is emblematic of the central conflict of the musical, which is the tension between the characters' desire to leave their community of Washington Heights for a better life and their love for that same community. Usnavi is in love with Vanessa and is torn between his desire to be with her and his attachment to his neighborhood. Vanessa, on the other hand, is ready to leave Washington Heights behind and start a new life but is conflicted about her feelings for Usnavi.


Overall, the song explores the themes of love, loss, and the pull of home, as well as the fear of missed opportunities and the consequences of indecision.


Line by Line Meaning

So I got you a present
I have brought something for you as a gift


I went downtown to get it
I traveled to the city center to purchase the gift


Doing anything tonight?
Do you have any plans for the evening?


Cleaning
I am cleaning the place


Done for the day
I have completed my work for the day


No way
I can't believe it


'Cuz we got a date
Because we have plans to meet each other


Okay
Alright, agreed


Before you board that plane
Prior to your departure on the flight


I owe you a bottle of cold champagne
I have a debt to repay with a bottle of chilled champagne


No
I don't want it


Yeah, cold champagne
Yes, a bottle of cold champagne would be nice


Damn, the bottle's all sweaty and everything
The bottle is wet with condensation


You went and got this
You obtained this gift for me


Pop the champagne
Let's open the bottle of champagne


I don't know if we have coffee cups
I am uncertain whether we have cups for the champagne or not


Or plastic cups, I think Sonny has the cups
Otherwise, we may need to use plastic cups and Sonny might have them


Tonight we're drinking straight from the bottle, Usnavi?
Shall we drink directly from the bottle? Usnavi?


Yeah?
Yes, let's do that


Daniela told me what you did for me
Daniela has informed me of your good deeds on my behalf


And it's honestly the sweetest thing anyone ever did for me
It was the kindest gesture anyone ever bestowed upon me


Now, what can I say or do to possibly repay you for your kindness?
What can I say or do to repay you for your kind act?


How do you get this gold shit off?
How can we remove the gold seal covering the champagne cork?


Usnavi!
Hey Usnavi, come here!


Before we both leave town!
Prior to our departure from the city


Before the corner changes and the signs are taken down
Before the locality undergoes changes and the signage is removed


Let's walk around the neighborhood and say our goodbyes
Let's stroll around the locality and bid farewell to the surroundings and people


Usnavi, are you alright?
Usnavi, are you feeling okay?


I'm fine, I'm tryn'a open this champagne
I'm okay, just trying to open the champagne bottle


See the twisty thing is broken
The screw part of the cork opener is damaged


But I'm gonna open this damn champagne!
But I will still attempt to open it anyhow


Lemme see it
Let me have a look at the bottle


No, I got it!
No, I can manage it on my own


Yo, Usnavi, drop the champagne!
Usnavi, drop the champagne bottle!


I mean you went to all this trouble to get us a little bubbly
You made the effort to obtain this champagne on our behalf


And it's gonna be okay
Everything is going to be alright


I'm sorry, it's been a long day
I apologize, it has been a tiring day for me


You oughta stay
You should stay here


What?
What do you mean?


You can use that money to fix this place
You may use the money to repair this place


Ha ha, very funny
Haha, that's a joke


And it's not like Sonny's got role models
Besides, Sonny doesn't have any positive role models


Role models?
Role models, what are you talking about?


Stepping up to the plate
Taking responsibility when needed


Yo, what are you talking about?
Hey, what are you trying to say?


I'm just saying, I think your vacation can wait
I am expressing my opinion, I think you can postpone your vacation


Vacation? Vanessa, you're leaving too
Vacation?, Vanessa you are also leaving, right?


I'm going down to West Fourth Street, you can take the A
I am going to West Fourth Street, you can take the subway line A


What are you trying to say?
What is the point you want to make?


You're leaving the country, and we're never gonna see you again
You're leaving the country, and we may not see you again


What are you trying to say?
What is it that you are trying to say to me?


You get everyone addicted to your coffee then off you go
You make everyone become addicted to your coffee and leave


Vanessa, I don't know why you're mad at me
Vanessa, I don't understand the reason for your anger towards me


I wish I was mad
I would prefer it if I was angry right now


I'm just too late
I have missed my chance or opportunity




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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