A Rumor In St. Petersburg lyrics

[Townspeople:]

The Neva flows, a new wind blows

And soon it will be spring

[Gleb, spoken:]

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 czar's St. Petersburg is now the people's Leningrad!

[Dimitri, spoken:]

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

(sung)

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

[Dimitri & Townspeople:]

Hail our great new land!

[Townspeople:]

St. Petersburg is blooming

A city on the rise

It's really very friendly

If you don't mind spies

We stand behind our leaders

And stand in line for bread

We're good and loyal comrades

And our favorite color's red

[Dimitri:]

Now everyone is equal

Professors push the brooms

[Dimitri & Townspeople:]

Two dozen total strangers

Live in two small rooms

You hold a revolution

And here's the price you pay

[Townspeople:]

Thank goodness for the gossip

Spasibo za slukhi!

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 streets?

Although the czar did not survive, one daughter may be still alive

The princess Anastasia - but please do not repeat

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

They say her royal grandmama will pay a royal sum

To someone who can bring the princess back!

[Vlad, spoken:]

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

(sung)

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 czar was dead, the royals fled

And, comrade, now we're stuck!

[Dimitri, spoken:]

Vlad! I've been thinking about the princess Anastasia.

[Vlad, spoken:]

Oh, not you too, Dimitri!

[Dimitri:]

It's the rumor, the legend, the mystery

It's the princess Anastasia who will help us fly

You and I, friend, 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 Paris

[Vlad:]

Imagine the reward her dear old grandmama will pay

[Dimitri & Vlad:]

Who else could pull it off but you and me?

[Anya, spoken:]

No!

[Gleb, spoken:]

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, spoken:]

Thank you

[Gleb, spoken:]

What's your hurry?

[Anya, spoken:]

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

[Gleb, spoken:]

I'm here everyday!

[Townspeople:]

A ruble for this painting

It's Romanov, I swear

Count Yusupov's pyjamas

Comrades, by the pair

I found this in a palace

Initialed with an A

It could be Anastasia's

Now what will someone pay?

[Dimitri, spoken:]

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

[Salesman, spoken:]

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

[Dimitri, spoken:]

Two cans of beans, comrade?

[Salesman, spoken:]

Done

[Dimitri, spoken:]

Do you believe in fairytales, Vlad?

[Vlad, spoken:]

Once upon a time I did

[Dimitri, spoken:]

We're going to create a fairytale the whole world will believe!

(sung)

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

[Dimitri:]

We try to cross the border with our princess and our plot

[Vlad:]

Hopefully disaster won't ensue

[Dimitri:]

With luck it'll all go smoothly

[Vlad:]

And with luck we won't be shot

[Dimitri & Vlad:]

Who else could pull it off but me and you?

[Dimitri:]

We'll be rich!

[Vlad:]

We'll be rich!

[Dimitri:]

We'll be out!

[Vlad:]

We'll be out!

[Dimitri & Vlad:]

And St. Petersburg will have some more to talk about

[Townspeople:]

I heard it from a person

Who assured me it was absolutely true

Have you heard, there's a rumor in St. Petersburg

Have you heard, comrade, what do you suppose?

[Vlad:]

A fascinating mystery

[Dimitri:]

The biggest con in history

[Dmitry, Vlad & Townspeople:]

The princess Anastasia

Alive or dead - Who knows?

• Artist:Anastasia (Musical) [OST]
• Album:Anastasia (Original Broadway Cast Recording)