Your public needs you
We need you too
Wouldn't you rather have your precious little ingénue?
Señora, no
The world wants you
Prima Donna, first lady of the stage
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you
Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?
Think of how they all adore you
Prima Donna, enchant us once again
Think of your muse and of the queues 'round the theatre
Can you deny us the triumph in store?
Sing, Prima Donna once more (Christine spoke of an angel)
Prima Donna, your song shall live again
(Think of your public) you took a snub, but there's a public who needs you
Those who hear your voice liken you to an angel
Think of the cry of undying support (we get our opera)
Follow where the limelight leads you (she gets her limelight)
Leading ladies are a trial
Prima Donna, your song shall never die (when she sings, we see heaven)
You'll sing again (orders, warning)
Prima Donna(Lunatic demands are regular occurrences)
Think how you'll shine in that final encore (surely there'll be further scenes)
Sing, Prima Donna once more (worse than this)
(I must see these demands are rejected)
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
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 (for if his curse is on this opera)
Prima Donna, the world is at your feet
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated
Light up the stage with that age-old rapport
Sing, Prima Donna once more