A Rumor In St. Petersburg Lyrics - Ramin Karimloo

VOICES ON LOUDSPEAKER: 

The Neva flows, 

A new wind blows, 

And soon it will be spring... 

GLEB: 

We hear you, comrades, the Revolution hears you. Together we will forge a new Russia that will be the envy of all the world. The Tsar's St. Petersburg is now the people's Leningrad. 

DMITRY: 

They can call it Leningrad but it will always be Petersburg. New name, same empty stomachs. 

They tell us times are better. 

Well, I say they're not! 

Can't cook an empty promise 

In an empty pot. 

"A brighter day is dawning. 

It's almost at hand!" 

The skies are gray, the walls have ears 

And he who argues disappears! 

DMITRY AND ENSEMBLE: 

Hail our brave new land! 

ALL: 

St. Petersburg is booming! 

A city on the rise! 

FIRSTWOMAN: 

It's really very friendly... 

SECOND WOMAN: 

If you don't mind spies! 

FIRSTWOMAN: 

Sshhl 

FIRST MAN: 

We stand behind our leaders. 

SECOND MAN: 

And stand in line for bread! 

ALL: 

We're good and loyal comrades 

And our fav'rite color's red! 

DMITRY: 

Now everyone is equal. 

Professors push the brooms. 

DMITRY AND ALL: 

Two dozen total strangers 

Live in two small rooms. 

You hold a revolution 

And here's the price you pay! 

ALL: 

Thank goodness for the gossip 

MEN: 

Спасибо за слухи! (Spasibo za slukhi!) 

ALL: 

Thank goodness for the gossip... 

That gets us through the day! 

Hey! 

Have you heard? 

There's a rumor in St. Petersburg. 

Have you heard? 

What they're saying on the street? 

SOLO MAN: 

Although the Tsar did not survive, 

One daughter may be still alive— 

ALL: 

The Princess Anastasia! 

SOLO: 

But please do not repeat! 

ALL: 

It's a rumor, 

A legend, 

A mystery. 

Something whispered in an alleyway 

Or through a crack. 

It's a rumor 

That's part of our history. 

SOLO WOMAN: 

They say her royal grandmamma 

Will pay a royal sum 

ALL: 

To someone who can bring the princess back! 

VLAD: 

They've closed another border. We should have gotten out of Russia while we still could. 

St. Petersburg was lovely 

When royalty was in. 

I called myself a count 

As though I'd always been! 

I hobnobbed with the royals 

But then, a change of luck— 

The Tsar was dead, 

The royals fled 

And comrade, now we're stuck! 

DMITRY: 

Vlad, I've been thinking about the Princess Anastasia. 

VLAD: 

Not you, too, Dmitry. 

DMITRY: 

It's the rumor, 

The legend, 

The mystery! 

It's the Princess Anastasia 

Who will help us fly! 

You and I, fiend, 

Will go down In history. 

We'll find a girl to play the part 

And teach her what to say, 

Dress her up and take her to Paree! 

VLAD: 

Imagine the reward 

Her dear old grandmama would pay! 

DMITRY AND VLAD: 

Who else could pull it off but you and me! 

ANYA: 

No!! 

GLEB: 

It was a truck backfiring, comrade, that's all it was. Those days are over: neighbor against neighbor. There's nothing to be afraid of anymore. You're shaking. There's a tea shop just steps from here. Let me... 

ANYA: 

Thank you. 

GLEB: 

What's your hurry? 

ANYA: 

I can't lose this job. They're not easy to come by. But thank you. 

GLEB: 

I'm here every day. 

BLACK MARKETEER #1: 

A ruble for this painting! 

It's Romanov, I swear! 

BLACK MARKETEER #2: 

Count Yusupov's pajamas, 

Comrade, buy the pair! 

BLACK MARKETEER #3: 

I found this in a palace 

Initialed with an "A"- 

It could be Anastasia's! 

Now what will someone pay? 

DMITRY: 

We need something others to show the old lady. How much is that music box? 

BLACK MARKETEER: 

Ah, the music box! It's genuine Romanov: I could never part with it. 

DMITRY: 

Two cans of beans, comrade? 

BLACK MARKETEER: 

Done! 

DMITRY: 

Do you believe in fairy tales, Vlad? 

VLAD: 

Once upon a time I did 

DMITRY: 

Were going to create a fairytale the whole world will believe. 

Now, it's risky, 

But not more than usual. 

We'll need papers, 

We'll need tickets, 

We'll need nerves of steel! 

VLAD: 

Yes, it's risky - 

A lot more than usual! 

DMITRY: 

We'll try to cross the border 

With our princess and our plot! 

VLAD: 

Hopefully disaster won't ensue! 

DMITRY: 

With luck it all goes smoothly 

VLAD: 

And with luck, we won't be shot! 

DMITRY AND VLAD: 

Who else could pull it off But me and you? 

DMITRY: 

We'll be rich! 

VLAD: 

We'll be rich! 

DMITRY: 

We'll be out! 

VLAD: 

We'll be out! 

BOTH: 

And St. Petersburg will 

Have some more to talk about! 

GROUP 1: 

I heard it from a person 

GROUP 1 AND GROUP 2: 

I heard it from 

A person who 

Assured me it was absolutely true! 

DMITRY, VLAD AND ALL: 

Sshh! 

Have you heard? 

There's a rumor in St. Petersburg! 

Have you heard 

Comrade, what do you suppose? 

VLAD: 

A fascinating mystery. 

DMITRY: 

The biggest con in history! 

DMITRY, VLAD AND ALL: 

The Princess Anastasia, 

ALL: 

Alive or dead... 

DMITRY, VLAD AND ALL: 

Who knows? 

DMITRY AND VLAD: 

Sshh!