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