Veronique by Cy Coleman, On the Twentieth Century Original Broadway Cast Lyrics

[LILY]
Pardon me, but I’ll be late –
I have to catch my subway train
Pardon me, and thanks a lot
But Mr. Jaffee… you’re insane

[OSCAR]
Goodbye…

[LILY]
Pardon me, see, I’ve got my folks –
What I earn, it pays the rent
Pardon me and thanks a lot
But Mr. Jaffee… I’m content

[OSCAR, spoken]
Uh-huh

[LILY]
(Spoken) Did you really think that I could do this?
[OSCAR]
(spoken) Yeah. Read

[LILY]
Veronique, she wink an eye;
Veronique, the bullets fly;
Veronique, she close the door
And start the Franco-Prussian war
Veronique, the femme fatale;
Veronique, the fleur-de-mal;
Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique!

[LILY AND OSCAR]
Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique!

[LILY]
Veronique, she wink an eye;
Veronique, the bullets fly;
Veronique, she close the door
And start the Franco-Prussian war
Veronique, the femme fatale;
Veronique, the fleur-de-mal;
Veronique, shut Bismarck out
And make the population shout
'Save our city:
Let old Bismarck have a look
Save our Paris:
You look good in history book.'
Ah, but Veronique
Won’t let him have a peek
Paris fall in boom! one week
[OSCAR & LILY]
Boom boom boom boom
Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique!

[LILY]
Veronique, she not a fan;
Veronique, she make a plan;
Veronique: 'I save the town
But I don’t do it lying down!'
Veronique, with fiery pride;
Veronique, she turn the tide;
Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique! Veronique!
Veronique, she face the Hun;
Veronique, she face the gun;
Veronique, she start to dance
While shouting bravely 'Vive La France!'
Veronique, a sudden hush!
Veronique, shout “Kill the Boche!”
Suddenly a shot, then two
And she fall lifeless dans la rue…
But her spirit dances on above the fray
Liberte, egalite, fraternite
France is saved and freedom once again can speak
All because of Veronique!
Veronique, Veronique, Veronique, Veronique
Ah--(operatic cadenza)
She close the door
She start the war
She won’t say yes
Won’t lift her dress
She save the town
She don’t lie down
She turn the tide
With fiery pride
Vive la France
Vive la France
[LILY AND Chorus]
Vive la France!