Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Changes in the 2014 West End Revival

I found a pretty decent audio of a matinee showing of the current revival of Miss Saigon, and here are all of the changed lyrics that I could find. Keep in mind though, the audio wasn't perfect, so I couldn't make out just everything. I could just wait for a cast recording to come out, but eh.

Italicized text indicates that this is the original line.
Underlined text indicates a changed lyric in the 2014 revival.

*Text with two asterisks around it means I'm not sure if this is the true line*


You can hear Kim's village being destroyed over the overture.

The Heat is on in Saigon:


Who's left to screw who hasn't gone -> Who's left in town who hasn't gone

Each day more GIs disappear, there's still some left and they all be here, a broken trust the Engineer -> Each day more GIs disappear, will we survive when no one's here, you girls must trust your Engineer

The second "Tonight I Will Be Miss Saigon" becomes "Tonight I Must Be Miss Saigon"

The heat is on in Saigon, the girls are hotter than hell, one of these slits here will be Miss Saigon, God the tension is high, not to mention the smell -> The Heat is on in saigon, These girls are ready to screw, one of these slits here will be Miss Saigon, and since we're stuck here in Hell what's a soldier to do?

The Heat is on in Saigon, Is there a war going on? Don't ask I ain't gonna tell -> *I think I'm gonna* choke, Since God this war is a joke, Tonight the joke is on you

I bet tonight you and I will get along, Forget about the threat forget the Viet Cong -> I got a feeling that you know how to *attatch it* I got an itch and baby you gotta scratch it.

I have a heart like the sea -> I'm so much more than you see

And things are not going well -> I can get used to the smell.

The Movie in my Mind:


The screen before me fills, he takes me to New York, He gives me dollar bills -> I'll find my true romance, He takes me to a place, where I don't have to dance

And eat too much ice cream, and life is like a dream -> But all that I've been through, can't make my dream come true

He'll keep us safe all day -> he'll keep the fear at bay

The Deal:


It's my friend Chris who's the one feeling down, She'll get him up, it's her first night in town -> My buddy Chris, *he's gone and snapped*, She's just what he needs she's got treasures untapped.

This little girl we could be in the sack, for what it costs me to buy a big mac, it's really time to go back, you know what I mean. -> This little girl we could be in the sack, and I could take something I can't give back, John it's time to go home, time to get clean.

Doctor John knows what you need alright, I've bought you a present she's yours all night -> *the trouble with you is an* empty bed, you need some action to clear your head.

That Marine, wants his beer is gone from the song.

Sun and Moon:


We have been blessed, you and I -> One and the same, you and I

Mentions of Unicorns replaced with mentions of Dragons.

The Wedding:


TV and stereo she gets, and Elvis Presley on cassettes -> She gets to leave this land behind, She'll live the movie in my mind.

The Last Night of the World:


So stay with me and hold me tight -> It's telling me to hold you tight

distant drums > beating drums

I will sing with you, a song -> our song

The Morning of the Dragon:


From every door they came, these children born of flame, sharing a secret word which they, waited a hundred years to say, >  *With feet from every door*, The people's army *trudging in underneath* the trees,  bringing the dragon to its knees

They changed the regime -> They washed out my brain

I Still Believe:


Last night I watched him sleeping, my body pressed to him, And then he started speaking, The name I heard him speak was Kim, yes I know that this was years ago, but when moonlight fills my room I know you are here still -> Last night I dreamed you held me, we slept here side by side, You whispered softly to me, I heard you speak my name, I cried, Oh I know it's been so many years, in the silence my secret tears, you are here still.

Please:


John says "1 month at sea" instead of Kim

Chris is Here:


The ending is significantly altered. It ends with Kim singing "This is too much for one heart" solo, and the Engineer exiting.

Kim's Nightmare:


Thuy's Verse of Kim's Nightmare becomes: Did you think I'd gone away. I am the man you killed that day. Killed with a bullet inside my chest. My pulse may be sleeping, but my should won't rest. I'm the crime that you hid. You can try but you'll never forget what you did. You will never be free, not as long as there's me.

Room 317:


They must have written the room number wrong, I am looking for someone named Christopher Scott. 317, oh I'm sorry, unless, well you must be of course. You're John's wife, are you not? -> 317? Christopher Scott's room.

No, Can't you see, it won't work, it can't be -> No, It won't work, he's your child, he's not mine.

Ellen's end portion of Room 317 becomes this: Chris, why aren't you here now. I don't understand. I really need you here. I put all my faith my trust into us. Please, help me.

The song Her or Me is replaced by a new song Maybe.

The Confrontation:


You said you lived with her, that's all you were. > You said you slept with her, that's all that you were.

It was only two weeks that was years ago, Nothing's changed for her. > Yes we were in love, it was years ago, we were torn apart

She wants your son to be an American boy. (John) > My dear, I saw the look in her eyes. (Ellen)

Let me tell you the way it was, back when I was a different man. Back when I didn't have a clue who I am. The feelings locked behind a dam. That kept me there in Vietnam.  > Let me tell you the way it was back when I was a different man. When I didn't have a clue about who's right. They drafted me and shipped me out. To wind up in a senseless fight.

John enters after Chris and Ellen have their discussion.

The American Dream:


Luck by the tail, how can you fail? And best of all, it's for sale. > Au revior, Miss Saigon. I'm moving on. Grab what you can 'til it's gone. 

Callgirls are lining time square > Asses that stick out to there

Bums there have money to spare > You can take *hold* if you dare

Cars that have bars take you there > Banks bring money from air

On stage each night: Fred Astaire > Cocaine, *chocolate* and prayer

Alternate ending verse of The American Dream (I couldn't figure this out, so it's mostly just guesswork):

*Soon you will have not a care* The American Dream
Tits can be bought by the pair, The American Dream
Call girls are lining Time Square, The American Dream
Bums there have money to spare, The American Dream
Spend every dollar that's there, The American Dream
*Trust in the song if you dare,* The American Dream
Say can you see, land of the free (sure can)
Come and you'll learn it from me.

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