Miss Saigon lyric changes

[actor465]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 9:14am

Does anyone know when the lyrics to the song formerly known as "Her or Me" were changed to "Now That I've Seen Her"?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 10:35am

Before it went to Broadway, I'm pretty sure.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 11:42am

Yes, Lizzie, as far as I know, too, any lyric changes were made before it opened on Broadway. I have seen a couple different productions and I have heard no changes since then.

[Sant]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 11:57am

The first changes were made shortly after its London premiere when the song "Her Or Me" was changed to "Now That I've Seen Her". The original lyrics and title were used in the OLCR cd but in 1990 the title of the song was changed to "NTISH" for the cd covers though the song itself remained in its original version.

More changes were made when the show was heading for its Broadway opening.

Last changes were made in 1994 when Kim's final scene was rewritten for the third time.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 3:01pm

Sant wrote: "Last changes were made in 1994 when Kim's final scene was rewritten for the third time."

Yes, that was an interesting change to the finale. From the original "Sacred Bird" to the second "Little God of My Heart" (Toronto and early Broadway productions) and finally to the current plainly titled "Finale." I prefer "Sacred Bird" bec. of the melody and metaphor of the lyrics but, it did give away too much of the ending. Time to listen to all 3 versions again.

[Justin D]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 3:58pm

Oddly enough, if you want to hear Clarie Moore (OLC ELLEN) sing NTISH rather than HOM, its on the OLC Highlights CD. I Much prefer this version to the one of the CSR because it sounds like Ruthie trips over something coming to the last word.

("Who's the man that I trusted (bump bump) now i have to know")

but Clarie adds in "that i ALWAYS trusted" makes it flow much better

[actor465]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 5:57pm

Actually, it's really weird, because I have the OLCR with Claire Moore singing "Now That I've Seen Her." I really don't understand. Maybe they came out with a new edition of the London recording after they changed the lyrics? The last song is also called "Finale" on the version I have. I am kind of boggled by this whole thing.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 5:59pm

Where can you hear the 2nd ending "Little God of My Heart"?
I'm only aware of two Miss Saigon records, OLC and Symphonic Recording.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 6:10pm

I was wondering about that, too. I prefer the original Sacred Bird to the newest one. Orchestra starts playing "American Dream" then, Bang! It was so unexpected. (At least on the CD)

Updated On: 9/15/06 at 06:10 PM

[C is for Company]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 6:16pm

The only ending I know of is the Sacred Bird ending from a London cd. Can anybody please clarify what multiple versions there were?

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 6:22pm

History of the endings: original ending was "Sacred Bird", recorded in OLC album, later changed to "Little God of My Heart" because the former gave too much of the ending. LGOMH was performed in London, Broadway and Toronto but was then changed immediately to the current "Finale" for the same reason. "Finale" is featured in the CSR recording. The production never realeased an Orig. Bdway. Cast recording.

Unfortunately, "Little God Of My Heart" was never recorded commercially. It was a beautiful and heart wrenching song. A portion of the score was reminiscent of a Japanese opera melody but blended with the signature Finale score. Aside from being performed by Lea Salonga on Broadway in 1991, a segment of this song was featured on a tv documentary of the opening night of the Princess of Wales Theater for the Canadian Production. Maane Dionisio sang the song. I believe the song was immediately changed to "Finale" after a few months when it opened on Broadway. From what I've heard, this version also gave too much of the ending hence, it went to the cutting floor.

Maybe some of you may recognize the song.
It goes something like this....
"Tam, Tam, little god of my heart...
Place your little hands to my face and bless my journey."

Updated On: 9/15/06 at 06:22 PM

Posted: 9/15/06 at 6:23pm

I think I'm the only one in the world who feels the current ending is vastly superior to Sacred Bird which was always too old-fashioned and meandering for my taste. I thought Little God of My Heart had the opposite problem...way too frantic.
Updated On: 9/15/06 at 06:23 PM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 6:43pm

Count me as a "Sacred Bird" lover. I also enjoy the "I'd Give My Life For You" reprise at the end. *SPOILER* That's what originally closed the first act (albeit a different meaning) and it only seemed fitting that it should end the show.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 6:53pm

Wow, that is true..the original London production had a different act 1 ending. There were good and bad things from that original draft...i.e. costume, blocking, set, the complete destruction of the shanty (weird), staging of "Scared Bird" and a dull ending after the finale (albeit scream from Chris). At the end, the final product was still amazing, and from the fans I've talked too, a majority preferred "Sacred Bird." If it gave away too much of the ending, Boublil & Schonberg could have easily changed the lyrics instead of the entire song (score+lyrics)and kept the current blocking and it would have been different. Just a thought. :)

[tophertilson]

Posted: 9/15/06 at 7:03pm

I saw MISS SAIGON in previews in London when I was a boy. I remember "Her Or Me" very clearly. Kim had her breakdown and left the stage. Ellen sang a little recitative. An electric piano kicked in and she then sang, "There are days/There are days when your life clouds over." The audience burst out laughing. Even as a boy I thought it was ridiculous. Good call on changing that one, I think. Though like most of you, I prefer "Sacred Bird."

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 9:36am

I remember reading somewhere that the Japanese cast recording of MISS SAIGON has LITTLE GOD OF MY HEART, but I've been hunting this CD down for a couple of years now with no luck so I can't verify.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 2:36pm

jsg03jd, yes, the Japanese production performed "Little God of My Heart" and was released commercially. So, I guess there is only one official recording that has this song. Let me tell you, get it if you can. Search ebay too. The quality of the recording and the huge symphonic arrangement are amazing. Way better than the OLC and CSR.

Updated On: 9/16/06 at 02:36 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 3:10pm

My copy of the OLC has Now That I've Seen Her, and Clare Moor definitely sings that, not Her or Me. Did they re-issue something at some point?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 3:16pm

adamgreer, "Her Or Me" and "Now That I've Seen Her" are practically the same song, more or less. All that was changed was the title.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 3:26pm

i have the casette tap of the OLC and they have the NOW THAT I'VE SEEN HER but then i bought the OLC CD and they have HER OR ME on it instead... weird, eh?

as fo Little God of my Heart... that song went through so many lyrical changes... i have several recordings from broadway and they all have different lyrics to them.... but since i'm bored... here's the lyrics of one verion i have with Lea Salogna singing....


Tam, Tam, Little God of my Heart
Now, Tam, you must do what i say
Soon, Tam, Soon your father will come
Look, Tam, see how happy i am
He will come take you home
all I want for you he'll do
you're still mine but i can't go along
Please don't ever be sad though i seem far away i'll be watching you too
Now big smile, one kiss, one more
Oh my son, oh my boy
I dreamed your future
You'll have it still
They think they know how things must be
They don't see but they will
Look at me one last time
Don't forget what you see
Press your little hands to my face and bless my journey

Like i said... there are other lyrcis to this version but i don't know them off the top of my head... oh it should also be noted that the original london ending had many musical changes to it not just lyrical... instead of the American Dream playing in the background they also had a THIS IS THE HOUR reprise... i have tons of recordings of the show in previews... sound so different before what it actually became!

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 3:57pm

So many points on this thread that I'll have to label them:

HOM/NTISH: Yes, pretty much the same song, but different title.

Finale Act 1: I have the Full symphonic, and it's I'd give my life for you. i wasn't aware that there was ever another. I saw the UK tour and it had that.

Overall Finale: I think that the 'Finale' on the full symphonic and other recordings is just a chopped up version of Little God of My Heart, Kim says, similarly to EATLASANGA's lyrics above;

(This is the Hour instrumental)

Sung:
Kim: Now Tam, My brave boy, our long wait has ended,
Smile, Tam, for you have a father, at last,
He has come to take you home, All I dreamed for you, he'll do,
You're still mine, but I can't go along, Don't be sad, though I'll be far away I will be watching you,

This is the hour, I swore I'd see,
I alone can tell now, what the end will be,
They think they'll decide your life,
No, it will be me!

Look at me, one last time,
Don't forget what you see,
One more kiss...
And then say goodbye...

(Mix of American dream and earlier instrumental)

(Gun shot)

Chris: Kim! Kim!

(Sun and Moon Instrumental)

Spoken:
Chris: What have you done, Kim?
Kim: The gods have guided you to your son.
Chris: Please don't die.
Kim: Hold me, one more time...

Sung:
Kim: How, in one night... have we come... so..far...

(Big Musical Ending with Cymbals)



It's very good. I'd love to know what the lyrics are to 'Sacred Bird', I've never heard it, what tune does it go to? I presume that like most of the songs in Miss Saigon, it shares its melody with another song or two. Enlighten me.

Updated On: 9/16/06 at 03:57 PM

[actor465]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 4:03pm

No, "Her or Me" and "Now That I've Seen Her" do, in fact, have different lyrics during the chorus and at the end. Adamgreer, I was wondering the same thing as you. I feel as if there has to have been a re-issue of the OLCR because my friend has the OLCR with "Her or Me" and I also have the OLCR, but it has "Now That I've Seen Her."

Weird.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 4:16pm

I don't like it when shows are updated and changed. It drives me mad. Especially because of the differences in two productions or more runnig at the same time. Take, for example, Starlight Express. The three dancers were originally known as the 'Rockies'. In Bochum, London, New York. However, to keep with th times, the UK & Irl tour renamed them 'Hip Hoppers'. In some productions, the German train is called Ruhrgold, in others it's called Weltschaft, and in other versions it was a French train called Bobo! Also, songs have been changed, such as the ommission of 'Call me Rusty', 'Belle', and 'Next time you fall in Love'. Also 'make up my heart', and I hate how they can't make up their mind on whether the big number is called 'The Starlight Sequence', 'Only You' or 'I am the Starlight'.

Sorry for thread jacking, back to Miss Saigon.

[vmlinnie]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 4:16pm

Don't ya just hate double posts? It's almost as bad as Doubles tennis.

Updated On: 9/16/06 at 04:16 PM

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 9/16/06 at 4:31pm

vmlinnie, here you go....the first 2 stanzas are introduced and accompanied with a different melody, reminiscent of Mozart's Requiem and the following stanzas then blend in with "I'd Give My Life For You" melody. I feel that this version completes the circle more since Kim's "I'd Give My Life For You" ends Act 1. It also sounds more dramatic. LGOMH is good too but, I don't quite prefer the lyrics. The current "Finale" is also effective but it's a little too short for me, leads way too quickly to her demise.

The Sacred Bird

From this picture I keep
You my parents look out
And your smiles show no scorn
I am happy today
For I know what to do
And my heart is not torn
Spirits know when to fly when its time
There's no reason to mourn
For the great sacred bird is reborn

From the ashes he'll rise
And upon his wide wings
I'll watch you from above
I will never be far
But my son, it's your turn
To know your father's love
I know now why I came to this earth
It's so you'll find your place
But for that I must leave your embrace.

You will be with your father now.
Give all your love to him when I am gone
Take one last look at me
Don't forget what you see
For now you must move on

You will be who you want to be - You
can choose whatever heaven grants
As long as you can have your chance
I swear I'll give my life to you
No one can stop what I must do
My son, I'll give my life for you.

Updated On: 9/16/06 at 04:31 PM