Notes?/Prima Donna
🎵 6222 characters
⏱️ 10:04 duration
🆔 ID: 370407
📜 Lyrics
Mystery after gala night
It says, "Mystery of soprano's flight"
"Mystified," all the papers say
"We are mystified, we suspect foul play"
Bad news on soprano scene
First Carlotta, now Christine
Still, at least the seats get sold
Gossip's worth its weight in gold
What a way to run a business
Spare me these unending trials
Half your cast disappears
But the crowd still cheers
Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel
Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hint
Damnable
Will they all walk out?
This is damnable
André, please don't shout
It's publicity
And the take is vast
Free publicity
But we have no cast
Andre, have you seen the queue?
Oh, it seems you've got one too
Dear Andre, what a charming gala
Christine was in the world's sublime
We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left
On that note the diva is a disaster
Must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime
Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder
My salary has not been paid
Send it care of the ghost
By return of post, PTO
No one likes a debtor
So it's better if my orders are obeyed
Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain
These are both signed "O. G."
Who the hell is he?
Opera Ghost!
It's nothing short of shocking
He's mucking our position
In addition he wants money
What a funny aberration to expect a large retainer
Nothing plainer, he is clearly quite insane
Where is she? (You mean Carlotta?)
I mean Miss Daaé, where is she?
Well, how should we know? (I want an answer)
I take it that you sent me this note
What's all this nonsense?
Of course not (don't look at us)
She's not with you, then?
Of course not (we're in the dark)
Monsieur, don't argue, isn't this the letter you wrote?
And what is it that we're meant to have wrote?
Written
Do not fear for Miss Daaé
The Angel of Music has her under his wing
Make no attempt to see her again
If you didn't write it, then who did?
Where is he? (Oh, welcome back)
Your precious patron
Where is he? (What is it now?)
I have your letter
A letter which I rather resent
And did you send it?
Of course not (as if he would)
You didn't send it?
Of course not (what's going on?)
You dare to tell me, that this is not the letter you sent?
And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?
Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered
Christine Daaé will be singing on your behalf tonight
Be prepared for a great misfortune
Should you attempt to take her place
Far too many notes for my taste
And most of them about Christine
All we've heard since we came is Miss Daaé's name
Miss Daaé has returned
I hope no words for as far as we're concerned
Where precisely is she now?
I thought it best that she was alone
She needed rest
May I see her?
No, monsieur, she will see no one
Will she sing? Will she sing?
Here, I have a note
Let me see it
Please
Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes
Of the most amiable nature
Detailing how my theatre is to be run
You have not followed my instructions
I shall give you one last chance
Christine Daaé has returned to you
And I am anxious her career should progress
In the new production of "Il Muto"
You will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy
And put Miss Daaé in the role of Countess
The role which Miss Daaé plays calls for charm and appeal
The role of the Pageboy is silent which makes my casting, in a word, ideal
I shall watch the performance from my normal set in Box 5
Which will be kept empty for me
Should these commands be ignored
A disaster beyond your imagination will occur
I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, O. G.
Christine! (Whatever next?)
It's all about a ploy to help Christine
(This is insane) I know who sent this
The Vicomte, her lover (indeed?)
(Can you believe this?)
Signora! (O traditori)
This is a joke, this changes nothing (o mentitori)
Signora!
You are our star and always will be
Signora!
The man is mad! We don't take orders
Miss Daaé will be playing the Pageboy
The silent role
Carlotta will be playing the lead
It's useless trying to appease me (appease her)
You're only saying this to please me (please her)
Signor, è vero?
Non, non, non voglio udire
Lasciatemi morire
O padre mio, Dio
Who scorn his word, beware to those (you have reviled me!)
The angel sees, the angel knows
You have rebuked me (signora, pardon us)
You have replaced me (please, signora, we beseech you)
This hour shall see your darkest fears (I must see her)
The angel knows, the angel hears (where did she go?)
Signora, sing for us, don't be a martyr
What new surprises lie in store?
Would you please give this to Miss Daaé?
Miss Daaé!
Your public needs you
We need you too
Wouldn't you rather have your precious little ingénue?
Signora, no! The world wants you
Prima Donna, first lady of the stage
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you
Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?
Think of how they all adore you
Prima Donna, enchant us once again
Think of your must and of the queues 'round the theatre!
Can you deny us the triumph in store?
Sing, Prima Donna, once more (Christine spoke of an angel)
Prima Donna, your song shall live again
(Think of your public) you took a snub
But there's a public who needs you
Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel
Think of the cry of undying support (we get our opera)
Follow where the limelight leads you (she gets her limelight)
Leading ladies are a trial
Prima Donna, your song shall never die (when she sings we see heaven)
You'll sing again (orders, warning)
(Lunatic demands are regular occurrences)
Think how you'll shine in that final encore (surely there'll be further scenes)
Sing, Prima Donna, once more (worse than this)
(I must see these demands are rejected!)
Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve
A chorus girl whose gone and slept with the patron?
Raoul and the soubrette entwined in love's duet
Although he may demur he must have been with her
You'd never get away with all this in a play
But if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue
It's just the sort of story, audiences adore
In fact, a perfect opera (for if his curse is on this opera)
Prima Donna, the world is at your feet
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!
Light up the stage with that age-old rapport
Sing, Prima Donna
Once more!
It says, "Mystery of soprano's flight"
"Mystified," all the papers say
"We are mystified, we suspect foul play"
Bad news on soprano scene
First Carlotta, now Christine
Still, at least the seats get sold
Gossip's worth its weight in gold
What a way to run a business
Spare me these unending trials
Half your cast disappears
But the crowd still cheers
Opera!
To hell with Gluck and Handel
Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hint
Damnable
Will they all walk out?
This is damnable
André, please don't shout
It's publicity
And the take is vast
Free publicity
But we have no cast
Andre, have you seen the queue?
Oh, it seems you've got one too
Dear Andre, what a charming gala
Christine was in the world's sublime
We were hardly bereft when Carlotta left
On that note the diva is a disaster
Must you cast her when she's seasons past her prime
Dear Firmin, just a brief reminder
My salary has not been paid
Send it care of the ghost
By return of post, PTO
No one likes a debtor
So it's better if my orders are obeyed
Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain
These are both signed "O. G."
Who the hell is he?
Opera Ghost!
It's nothing short of shocking
He's mucking our position
In addition he wants money
What a funny aberration to expect a large retainer
Nothing plainer, he is clearly quite insane
Where is she? (You mean Carlotta?)
I mean Miss Daaé, where is she?
Well, how should we know? (I want an answer)
I take it that you sent me this note
What's all this nonsense?
Of course not (don't look at us)
She's not with you, then?
Of course not (we're in the dark)
Monsieur, don't argue, isn't this the letter you wrote?
And what is it that we're meant to have wrote?
Written
Do not fear for Miss Daaé
The Angel of Music has her under his wing
Make no attempt to see her again
If you didn't write it, then who did?
Where is he? (Oh, welcome back)
Your precious patron
Where is he? (What is it now?)
I have your letter
A letter which I rather resent
And did you send it?
Of course not (as if he would)
You didn't send it?
Of course not (what's going on?)
You dare to tell me, that this is not the letter you sent?
And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?
Your days at the Opera Populaire are numbered
Christine Daaé will be singing on your behalf tonight
Be prepared for a great misfortune
Should you attempt to take her place
Far too many notes for my taste
And most of them about Christine
All we've heard since we came is Miss Daaé's name
Miss Daaé has returned
I hope no words for as far as we're concerned
Where precisely is she now?
I thought it best that she was alone
She needed rest
May I see her?
No, monsieur, she will see no one
Will she sing? Will she sing?
Here, I have a note
Let me see it
Please
Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes
Of the most amiable nature
Detailing how my theatre is to be run
You have not followed my instructions
I shall give you one last chance
Christine Daaé has returned to you
And I am anxious her career should progress
In the new production of "Il Muto"
You will therefore cast Carlotta as the Pageboy
And put Miss Daaé in the role of Countess
The role which Miss Daaé plays calls for charm and appeal
The role of the Pageboy is silent which makes my casting, in a word, ideal
I shall watch the performance from my normal set in Box 5
Which will be kept empty for me
Should these commands be ignored
A disaster beyond your imagination will occur
I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, O. G.
Christine! (Whatever next?)
It's all about a ploy to help Christine
(This is insane) I know who sent this
The Vicomte, her lover (indeed?)
(Can you believe this?)
Signora! (O traditori)
This is a joke, this changes nothing (o mentitori)
Signora!
You are our star and always will be
Signora!
The man is mad! We don't take orders
Miss Daaé will be playing the Pageboy
The silent role
Carlotta will be playing the lead
It's useless trying to appease me (appease her)
You're only saying this to please me (please her)
Signor, è vero?
Non, non, non voglio udire
Lasciatemi morire
O padre mio, Dio
Who scorn his word, beware to those (you have reviled me!)
The angel sees, the angel knows
You have rebuked me (signora, pardon us)
You have replaced me (please, signora, we beseech you)
This hour shall see your darkest fears (I must see her)
The angel knows, the angel hears (where did she go?)
Signora, sing for us, don't be a martyr
What new surprises lie in store?
Would you please give this to Miss Daaé?
Miss Daaé!
Your public needs you
We need you too
Wouldn't you rather have your precious little ingénue?
Signora, no! The world wants you
Prima Donna, first lady of the stage
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you
Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?
Think of how they all adore you
Prima Donna, enchant us once again
Think of your must and of the queues 'round the theatre!
Can you deny us the triumph in store?
Sing, Prima Donna, once more (Christine spoke of an angel)
Prima Donna, your song shall live again
(Think of your public) you took a snub
But there's a public who needs you
Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel
Think of the cry of undying support (we get our opera)
Follow where the limelight leads you (she gets her limelight)
Leading ladies are a trial
Prima Donna, your song shall never die (when she sings we see heaven)
You'll sing again (orders, warning)
(Lunatic demands are regular occurrences)
Think how you'll shine in that final encore (surely there'll be further scenes)
Sing, Prima Donna, once more (worse than this)
(I must see these demands are rejected!)
Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve
A chorus girl whose gone and slept with the patron?
Raoul and the soubrette entwined in love's duet
Although he may demur he must have been with her
You'd never get away with all this in a play
But if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue
It's just the sort of story, audiences adore
In fact, a perfect opera (for if his curse is on this opera)
Prima Donna, the world is at your feet
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!
Light up the stage with that age-old rapport
Sing, Prima Donna
Once more!