Tell Me on a Sunday
Marguerite Krull Justin White Andrew Lane; Orlando Pops Orchestra Lyrics
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Your public needs you!
FIRMIN:
We need you, too!
CARLOTTA:
(unassuaged) Would you not
precious little
ingenue?
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Signora, no!
the world wants you!
(The MANAGERS adopt their most persuasive attitudes)
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Prima donna
first lady of the stage!
Your devotees
are on their knees
to implore you !
ANDRE:
Can you bow out
when they're shouting
your name?
FIRMIN:
Think of how they all
adore you!
BOTH:
Prima donna,
enchant us once again!
ANDRE:
Think of your muse . . .
FIRMIN:
And of the queues
round the theatre!
BOTH:
Can you deny us the triumph
in store?
Sing, prima donna, once more!
(CARLOTTA registers her acceptance as the MANAGERS continue to cajole and the OTHERS reflect variously on the situation)
RAOUL:
Christine spoke of an angel . . .
CARLOTTA:
(to herself, in triumph)
Prima donna
your song shall live again!
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
(to CARLOTTA)
Think of your public!
CARLOTTA:
You took a snub
but there's a public
who needs you!
GIRY:
(referring to CHRISTINE)
She has heard the voice
of the angel of music . . .
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
(to CARLOTTA)
Those who hear your voice
liken you to an angel!
CARLOTTA:
Think of their cry
of undying
support !
RAOUL:
Is this her angel of music . . .?
ANDRE:
(to FIRMlN)
We get our opera . . .
FIRMIN:
(to ANDRE)
She gets her limelight!
CARLOTTA:
Follow where the limelight
leads you!
MEG:
Is this ghost
an angel or a madman . . .?
RAOUL:
Angel or madman . . .?
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
(aside) Leading ladies are a trial!
GIRY:
Heaven help you,
those who doubt . . .
CARLOTTA:
You'll sing again,
and to unending
ovation!
RAOUL:
Orders! Warnings!
Lunatic demands!
GIRY:
This miscasting
will invite damnation . . .
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Tears . . . oaths . . .
Iunatic demands
are regular occurrences!
MEG:
Bliss or damnation?
Which has claimed her . . .?
CARLOTTA:
Think how you'll shine
in that final encore!
Sing, prima donna,
once more!
GIRY:
Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings!
RAOUL:
Surely, for her sake . . .
MEG:
Surely he'll strike back . . .
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Surely there'll be further scenes -
worse than this!
GIRY:
Think, before
these demands are rejected!
RAOUL:
. . .I must see
these demands are rejected!
MEG:
. . . if his threats
and demands are rejected!
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Who'd believe a diva
happy to relieve a chorus girl,
who's 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!
MEG/RAOUL:
Christine must be protected!
CARLOTTA:
0, fortunata!
Non ancor
abbandonata!
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
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!
RAOUL:
His game is over!
GIRY:
This is a game
you cannot hope to win!
RAOUL:
And in Box Five
a new game will begin . . .
GIRY:
For, if his curse is on this opera . . .
MEG:
But if his curse is on this opera . . .
ANDRE/FIRMIN:
Prima donna
the world is at your feet!
A nation waits,
and how it hates
to be cheated!
CARLOTTA:
The stress that falls upon a
famous prima donna!
Terrible diseases,
coughs and colds and sneezes!
Still, the dryest throat
will reach the highest note,
in search of perfect
opera!
MEG/GIRY:
. . . then I fear the outcome . . .
RAOUL:
Christine plays the Pageboy,
Carlotta plays the Countess . . .
GIRY:
. . . should you dare to . .
MEG:
. . . when you once again . . .
ALL:
Light up the stage
with that age old
rapport!
Sing, prima donna,
once more!
PHANTOM'S VOICE:
So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not
met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur!
ALL:
Once more!
(Taken directly from script)
In this part of the musical number, the managers urge the prima donna, Carlotta, not to bow out of the performance even though she has been snubbed by the mysterious Phantom. They persuade her to continue because her public needs her and she is the first lady of the stage. The managers tell her to think about her muse and her devotees who are on their knees, ready to implore her to sing once again. They continue to cajole her, reminding her of the queues round the theatre and how all her fans adore her. They urge Carlotta to follow the limelight and to think of her shining final encore, singing once more. Meanwhile, other characters express confusion and fear about the Phantom, speculating about Christine's angel of music and whether the Phantom's curse is on the opera.
Line by Line Meaning
Your public needs you!
Without your presence, the audience will not be satisfied.
We need you, too!
We cannot produce a successful show without you.
Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?
Do you not prefer having a less established actress in the spotlight?
Signora, no! the world wants you!
Madame, the entire world desires your performance.
Prima donna first lady of the stage!
A leading lady of theatre productions.
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you !
The fans beg for your return to the stage.
Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?
Is it possible to leave when the audience cheers your name?
Think of how they all adore you!
Consider how much the fans admire you.
Prima donna, enchant us once again!
Lead us with your incredible performance.
Think of your muse . . . And of the queues round the theatre!
Remember the inspiration behind your success and the crowds eagerly waiting to see you on stage.
Can you deny us the triumph in store?
Will you refuse to bring us the victory we anticipate?
Sing, prima donna, once more!
Perform for us again, lead actress.
Christine spoke of an angel . . . your song shall live again!
The actress Christine mentioned a heavenly voice - perhaps you will once again produce something equally beautiful.
Think of your public! You took a snub but there's a public who needs you!
Remember the people who would miss you if you weren't on stage - despite any negativity you may have received before.
She has heard the voice of the angel of music . . . Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel!
Christine hears a remarkable voice when she sings, much like the crowd hears an angel when you perform.
Think of their cry of undying support !
Remember how the fans persistently support you.
Is this her angel of music . . .?
This angel of music Christine speaks of - could it be the same as the angelic voice the audience hears from you?
We get our opera . . . She gets her limelight!
The managers will have a show, and you will have the spotlight.
Follow where the limelight leads you!
Pursue the spotlight wherever it takes you.
Angel or madman . . .?
Is this mysterious phantom an angel or insane?
Leading ladies are a trial!
It can be difficult to be a famous actress.
Heaven help you, those who doubt . . .
May you find support and guidance if you face skeptics.
You'll sing again, and to unending ovation!
You will undoubtedly perform again and receive endless praise.
Lunatic demands are regular occurrences!
Unreasonable requests are commonplace in this industry.
Bliss or damnation? Which has claimed her . . .?
Is Christine experiencing great happiness or great misfortune?
Think how you'll shine in that final encore!
Consider how splendid you will appear during the concluding song.
Sing, prima donna, once more!
Perform one more time, leading actress.
Surely, for her sake . . . Surely he'll strike back . . . Surely there'll be further scenes - worse than this!
The phantom may exact revenge in greater forms than before.
Think, before these demands are rejected!
Consider if you will refuse to meet our requests.
Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve a chorus girl, who's gone and slept with the patron?
It's unlikely anyone would think a famous actress would be willing to take the place of a low-ranking chorus girl who has an affair with the performance's financial backer.
Raoul and the soubrette, entwined in love's duet!
Raoul and the other actress singing a romantic duet.
Although he may demur, he must have been with her!
Although Raoul may not directly express it, he likely has feelings for the other actress.
Christine must be protected!
It's imperative we keep Christine safe.
Light up the stage with that age old rapport!
Illuminate the performance with the longstanding bond between performer and audience.
So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur! Once more!
We will have a conflict if our requests are not fulfilled. This will result in an unimaginable disaster. Perform once again to bring closure.
Lyrics © THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
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