Breathe

Breathe is the 3rd song off of the soundtrack.

Writing Process

 * When Eden Espinosa was Nina in 2005, Breathe didn't exist yet, but Lin "did write this CRAZY high Finale section where Nina's on the plane back (!)"

Filming

 * Leslie Grace was spotted filming the “Breathe” scene on June 28

Lyrics
[PIRAGUA GUY] Sigue andando el camino por toda su vida Respira...

[NINA] Breathe

[COMMUNITY] Y si pierdes mis huellas que dios te bendiga Respira

[NINA] This is my street I smile at the faces I’ve known all my life They regard me with pride And everyone’s sweet They say, “You’re going places!’ So how can I say that while I was away I had so much to hide!

“Hey guys, it’s me! The biggest disappointment you know.” The kid couldn’t hack it She’s back and she’s walkin’ real slow Welcome home Just breathe...

[NINA] Just breathe—

[COMMUNITY] Sigue andando el camino por toda su vida Respira—

Y si pierdes mis huellas que dios te bendiga Respira—

[NINA] As the radio plays old forgotten boleros I think of the days when this city was mine I remember the praise

[NINA] “Ay, te adoro, te quiero,” The neighborhood waved, and Said, “Nina, be brave and You’re gonna be fine!” And maybe it’s me But it all seems like lifetimes ago

[COMMUNITY] Te adoro

Te quiero Respira!

Respira!

[NINA] So what do I say to these faces that I used to know? “Hey, I’m home?”

[NEIGHBOR LADY] Mira Nina

[NINA] Hey…

[COMMUNITY] No me preocupo por ella

[NINA] They’re not worried about me

[COMMUNITY] Mira, allí esta nuestra estrella!

[NINA] They are all counting on me to succeed

[COMMUNITY] Ella sí da la talla!

[NINA] I am the one who made it out! The one who always made the grade But maybe I should have just stayed home…

When I was a child I stayed wide awake Climbed to the highest place On every fire escape Restless to climb

I got every scholarship Saved every dollar The first to go to college How do I tell them why I’m coming back home? With my eyes on the horizon

[COMMUNITY] Ah! Ah, aah… Mira Nina Respira… Respira… Ah!

[NINA] Just me and the GWB, asking, “Gee Nina, what’ll you be?"

Straighten the spine Smile for the neighbors Everything’s fine Everything’s cool The standard reply: “Lots of tests, lots of papers.” Smile, wave goodbye And pray to the sky, oh, god… And how do I dare to say?

[COMMUNITY] Nina…

[NINA] Can I go in there and say

[COMMUNITY] Nina…

[NINA] “I know that I’m letting you down…”

[Kevin Rusario] Nina…

[NINA] Just breathe...

Tweets
“restless to climb” as a kid It’s gonna come back around
 * When you write the lyric
 * When you write the lyric

Trivia

 * In the original musical soundtrack, Nina sings "What will my parents say?" and in the movie it is changed to "And how do I dare to say?". This is likely because Nina's mom was cut from the movie. The director Quiara Alegría Hudes stated that this change made the parallel between Nina's and Usnavi's narratives stronger.