Overture Lyrics

(A Friday night in April 1975. Backstage at an after-hours club in Saigon.
Vietnamese bar-girls are getting into costumes.)

GIRLS
tonight I will be Miss Saigon

GIGI
tonight you'll be Miss "jumped upon"

GIRLS
I'll win a GI and be gone

GIGI
he'll screw you with your crown still on

MIMI
what happens when the Cong attack?

GIGI
they'll rip the hot pants off your back

ALL GIRLS
the VC all wear basic black

(a new girl, KIM, is trying to stuff cotton into her bra.)

KIM
is this the way you make a chest?

GIGI
(removes the cotton)
hey, give that virgin act a rest

ALL GIRLS
(mocking the new girl)
"you are my first American"

(they laugh)

(the ENGINEER enters)

ENGINEER
allez! allez! allez!
why does it take all day?
get your asses on stage... I'm raising cash tonight

GIRLS
tonight I will be Miss Saigon

ENGINEER
tell yourself that your passport's standing at the bar

GIRLS
tonight I will be Miss Saigon

ENGINEER
each day these little bums of yours are worth less and less
rake in the dollars now before the market falls too far

(the ENGINEER looks through the door into the club.)

ENGINEER
look who I got out here
I can still engineer
it's like the old days, my little gamines

GIRLS
oh sure!

ENGINEER
you know who's out here? a gang of marines!

GIRLS
they're here?

ENGINEER
we'll clean them out the American way

GIRLS
yes, sir!

ENGINEER
for something free, they don't care what they pay

(turns to KIM)

why are you in that dress?
ah! it's my new princess
ah, yes...

that bridal gown gives you some class
lower your eyelids as you pass
men pay a lot for virgin ass

allez! allez! allez!
get out and do your song!
don't make the show too long

voila'! on stage all! welcome to...
Dreamland!!!