Balaga (Off-Broadway Version)

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
Hey, Balaga,
Ho, Balaga,
Hey, hey, ho, Balaga,
Hey, hey, Balaga,
The famous troika driver

Hey, Balaga,
Ho, Balaga,
Hey, hey, hey, Balaga,
Hey, hey, Balaga,
The famous troika driver

[BALAGA]
Who's that madman
Flying at full gallop down the street?
Who's that madman
Knocking people over,
Running people down,
While his fine gentlemen
Hold onto their seats?

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
It's Balaga!

[BALAGA]
Driving mad at twelve miles an hour!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
Balaga!

[BALAGA]
Coming straight at you
Get out my way, get out my way!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
Balaga!

[BALAGA]
Lashing my whip at horses and peasants!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
Balaga!

[BALAGA]
Risking skin and life twenty times a year
For my fine, fine gentlemen
Yessir, hey, ho, yessir
Yessir, yessir, yessir

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
More than once

[BALAGA]
From Tula to Moscow
And back in just one night!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
More than once

[BALAGA]
A narrow escape
From a wild Cossack fight!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
More than once

[BALAGA]
They've beaten me
And slapped me with their gloves!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
More than once

[BALAGA]
Made me drunk on champagne,
Which I love!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
Hey, Balaga,
Ho, Balaga,
Hey, hey, ho, Balaga,
Hey, hey, Balaga,
The famous troika driver

Hey, Balaga,
Ho, Balaga,
Hey, hey, hey, Balaga,
Hey, hey, Balaga,
The famous troika driver

[ANATOLE]
Who's that slowpoke
We abuse with wild and tipsy shouts?

[BALAGA]
Who knows things
That would get you sent straight to Siberia
If anyone found out?

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
It's Balaga!

[BALAGA]
Driving mad at twelve miles an hour!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
Balaga!

[BALAGA]
Coming straight at you
Get out my way, get out my way!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
Balaga!

[BALAGA]
Drinking and dancing at Gypsy orgies!

[ANATOLE & DOLOKHOV]
Balaga!

[BALAGA]
Riding my horses into the ground
For my fine fine gentlemen
Yessir, hey, ho, yessir
Yessir, yessir, yessir

[ALL]
More than once

[BALAGA]
Driven you round with ladies on your laps!

[ALL]
More than once

[BALAGA]
Taken you places not on any maps!

[ALL]
More than once

[BALAGA]
Galloped faster than ordinary men would dare!

[ALL]
More than once

[BALAGA]
Jumped my troika right into the air!

And I never ask for rubles,
Except maybe once a year—
I don't do this for rubles,
I do it 'cause I like 'em!

[ALL]
And we like Balaga too!

[ANATOLE]
Whoa

[ALL]
Whoa
Whoa
Whoa