Prologue and Jet Song
Orchestra And The Jets Lyrics

Snapping Fingers
The sound of fingers snapping as a form of expression or communication.

Smooth Boppy Piano
The sound of a piano playing a smooth and upbeat melody, typical of the bop jazz style.

Riff: This turf is small but it's all we got, huh?
"Turf" refers to the territory that the Jets have claimed as their own, which is not very large or significant. However, it is all they have and they are willing to fight for it.

I want to hold it like we always held it, with skin!
The Jets want to maintain their control over their territory through physical means, using their bodies and weapons to defend it.

But if they say blades, I say blades but if they say guns, I say guns. I say I want the Jets to be the number one! To sail! To hold the sky!
The Jets are flexible in their tactics and weapons of choice, but their ultimate goal is to be the most powerful and respected gang in the area. This goal is expressed through the imagery of sailing and holding the sky, suggesting a desire for freedom and control.

Baby John: Rev us up!
Baby John is calling for the group to get excited and energized for their upcoming confrontation with the Sharks.

Gee-Tar: Voom-va-voom!
Gee-Tar responds with a sound effect imitating the revving of an engine, emphasizing the group's readiness for action.

Big Deal: Cha-chung!
Big Deal contributes a sound effect that could represent the cocking of a gun, adding to the tense and aggressive atmosphere of the scene.

Action: Wacko-jacko!
Action contributes a nonsense phrase that could be interpreted as a war cry or expression of excitement.

A-Rab: Digga-digga-dig-dumb!
A-Rab contributes a rhythmic phrase that adds to the energetic and aggressive atmosphere of the scene.

Riff: Now, protocality calls for a war council between us and the Sharks to set the whole thing up. So I will personally give the bad news to Bernardo. Aganst the Sharks, we need every man we got we need a lieutenant for the war council.
Riff explains the need for a meeting between the Jets and Sharks to discuss their ongoing turf war, and assigns the task of speaking with the leader of the Sharks, Bernardo, to himself. He emphasizes that the Jets need every man available to win the war, and that they require a lieutenant to help plan their strategy.

Action: That's me.
Action volunteers himself to be the lieutenant for the war council, indicating his desire to play a leadership role in the group.

Riff: That's Tony.
Riff instead assigns the role of lieutenant to Tony, another member of the Jets, establishing Tony's importance to the group and his leadership potential.

Action: Who needs Tony?
Action questions Tony's relevance to the group, indicating a possible conflict or power struggle between the two.

Riff: We need Tony! He has a reputation bigger than the whole west side.
Riff argues that Tony's reputation and influence make him a valuable asset to the Jets, and suggests that without him they would be weaker or less respected.

Baby John: He saved my ever-lovin' neck!
Baby John expresses his personal gratitude to Tony for having saved him in the past, emphasizing Tony's loyalty and importance to the group.

Riff: Yeah, he's come through for us and he always will.
Riff reaffirms the group's trust in Tony and his commitment to the Jets, indicating that he is a reliable and valuable member of the gang.

Riff: When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way from your first cigarette to your last dyin' day. When you're a Jet, let 'em do what they can. You got brothers around, you're a family man! You're never alone, you're never disconnected! You're home with your own when company's expected, you're well protected! Then you are set with a capital J, which you'll never forget till the cart you away. When you're a Jet, you stay a Jet!
Riff sings a rousing anthem for the Jets, emphasizing their sense of camaraderie, loyalty, and belonging to a tight-knit family. He highlights the importance of the group in providing protection, support, and a sense of identity for its members, expressed through the symbol of the letter J.

Riff: I know Tony like I know me and I guarantee you can count him in.
Riff vouches for Tony's loyalty and commitment to the Jets, indicating that he is willing to participate in their upcoming confrontation with the Sharks.

Action: In, out, let's get crackin'.
Action expresses his eagerness to get started on the group's mission, indicating a desire to take quick and decisive action.

A-Rab: Where you gonna find Bernardo?
A-Rab questions how the Jets will locate Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks, for their planned confrontation.

Baby John: It ain't safe to go into PR territory.
Baby John expresses his concern for the danger of entering the Sharks' territory in pursuit of Bernardo, indicating the high stakes of their turf war.

Riff: He'll be at the dance at the gym tonight.
Riff reveals his knowledge of Bernardo's whereabouts, providing a plan for the Jets to confront him and the Sharks in neutral territory.

A-Rab: Yeah, but the gym's neutral territory.
A-Rab expresses concern that the planned confrontation at the dance may violate the rules of neutral territory, risking a larger conflict or backlash from the Sharks and authorities.

Riff(innocently): A-Rab, I'm gonna make nice with him! I'm only gonna challenge him.
Riff downplays his intentions to A-Rab, suggesting that he plans to approach Bernardo in a friendly or respectful manner before challenging him to a fight. However, this may be a misdirection or manipulation of A-Rab's concerns.

A-Rab: Great, Daddy-o!
A-Rab approves of Riff's plan and adopts a playful epithet for him, reinforcing their sense of camaraderie and informal language.

Riff: So everybody dress up sweet and sharp and meet Tony and me at the dance at ten. And walk tall!
Riff provides instructions for the Jets to dress well and meet him and Tony at the dance, emphasizing their need to make a strong impression and assert their power and confidence.

A-Rab: We always walk tall!
A-Rab expresses the group's familiarity with the idea of walking tall, or with confidence and pride in their identity as Jets. This reinforces the theme of belonging and loyalty within the gang.

Baby John: We're Jets!
Baby John reasserts the group's identity and loyalty, cementing their sense of belonging and pride in their gang membership.

Action: The greatest!
Action emphasizes the group's superiority and greatness, reinforcing their sense of pride and ambition.

Drums
The sound of drums beginning to play, signaling the start of the music for the upcoming song and the intensity of the scene.

Snowboy: When you're a Jet, you're the top cat in town, you're the gold medal kid with the heavyweight crown!
Snowboy sings an opening verse for the song, echoing the themes of pride, superiority, and dominance within the Jets gang. He highlights their status as leaders and champions within their community.

Diesel: When you're a Jet, you're the swingin'est thing. Little boy, you're a man, little man, you're a king!
Diesel continues the song's theme of power and coolness, emphasizing that being a Jet confers a sense of maturity and authority on its members. He adopts a playful and slangy tone, emphasizing the informal nature of the gang's culture.

Jets: The Jets are in gear. Our cylinders are clickin'. The Sharks'll stear clear 'cause every Puerto Rican's a lousy chicken! Here come the Jets like a bat out of hell. Someone gets in our way, someone don't feel so well. Here come the Jets little world, step aside! Better go underground, better run, better hide. We're drawin' the line, so keep your noses hidden! We're hangin' a sign, says "Visitors Forbidden" and we ain't kiddin'! Here come the Jets, Yeah! An' we're gonna beat every last buggin' gang on the whole buggin' street! on the whole buggin' ever lovin' street!
The Jets sing a chorus dedicated to their dominance and intimidation of their rivals, the Sharks. They use animalistic and violent imagery to describe their power, warning others to stay out of their way or face serious consequences. They adopt a defiant and aggressive tone, emphasizing their ambition and determination to beat every other gang on the streets.

Gee-Tar: Yeah!
Gee-Tar punctuates the end of the song with a triumphant sound, reinforcing the Jets' sense of pride and accomplishment.