[CLOPIN]
Welcome to Paris
Parasites and rubble
True there's still some
Trouble you'll attract
Where our race is
Killed in other places
Here our life is like
A balancing act

[GYPSIES]
Welcome to Paris
Parasites and rubble
We have rules here
Learn them on the double

[CLOPIN]
We gypsies here in Paris
Have our specified roles to play

[GYPSIES]
We gypsies here in Paris
Have our specified roles to play

[CLOPIN]
And if we play them nice enough
Then maybe they'll let us stay
[GYPSIES]
And if we play them nice enough
Then maybe they'll let us stay

[CLOPIN]
First there is the beggar
So forlorn, so forsaken
Next, the street performer they acclaim

[STREET PERFORMERS]
We're street performers

[CLOPIN]
Last but never least
There is the scapegoat who they can blame
For all their troubles

And we try to keep the times
We're pitied or petted
Greater than the times
We are attacked

[FEMALE GYPSIES]
Sometimes we're spared

[MALE GYPSIES]
Sometimes we're smacked
[CLOPIN]
It's a balancing act

(spoken)
Ahaha. And what is this beauty's name?

[WOMAN]
(spoken)
Esmeralda

[CLOPIN]
(spoken)
And how are you going to earn your keep, Esmeralda?

[ESMERALDA]
(spoken)
I dance

[CLOPIN]
(spoken)
Dance, good

(sung)
Welcome to Paris, Esmeralda
The way you move
Is made to make men fall
[MALE GYPSIES]
Esmeralda

[CLOPIN]
A girl who looks like Esmeralda
Is sure to prove
An asset to us all

[GYPSY WOMAN]
(spoken)
Asset? Ha! She's the reason we got kicked out at Frankfurt!

[CLOPIN]
(spoken)
Oh, really? Caught stealing, were you?

[GYPSY WOMAN]
(spoken)
She hit a soldier

[CLOPIN]
(spoken)
Ah. But Esmeralda, you just worry about yourself here. Otherwise you soon be on your way to the next town. Understood?

[ESMERALDA]
(spoken)
Yes

(Sung)
Welcome to Paris, Esmeralda
This time I swear
I swear with all my might
If I see cruelty or injustice
I'll leave them there
For someone else to fight

[GYPSIES]
Welcome to Paris, wretched refuge

[ESMERALDA]
Can it be, at last, I'll find a home?

[GYPSIES]
This is our home now

[ESMERALDA]
An end to all my years of roaming

[GYPSIES]
We'll have a home

[ESMERALDA]
I'll hold my tongue

[GYPSIES]
At last, a home

[ESMERALDA]
Control my temper

[ESMERALDA/GYPSIES]
I'll/We'll use my/our wits and wiles and talents
To try and keep on balancing
Forever

[ALL]
And when this day is done
There will be more to celebrate

[CLOPIN]
Unless of course, it's one
When they decide to display their hate

[ALL]
Dear God, don't make it one
Where they display their hate

[CLOPIN]
Well, no point in worrying
It's time to get out there
And do our level best to keep in tact

[ALL]
We'll do our level best to keep in tact
Our balancing-

Welcome to Paris
All that we desire
Is a home here
Dancing on a wire
And we're ready
To accept the fact-
Living here is like
A balancing act