Land of Yesterday

Once I had a palace

Here merely a flat

I fled with some diamonds

And that was that

It’s very tragic

Once ladies-in waiting

All bending a knee

Now, only one lady-in waiting

Me

No fanfares

Or sedan chairs

And no coaches

And we sold our broaches

No afternoon card games with the Tsar

No caviar

But I say we’re not dead now

Let us not be sad

The night’s young

And Russians are mad

So let’s live in the land of yesterday

Live in the grand imperial heyday

Let’s live in the land of yesterday Russia

Russia

Let’s put on the fancy clothes

And let’s while our woes away

In Russia

Land of yesterday

In dire circumstances

Why wallow in regret

We’re out of second chances

Why are we here except to forget

We know the world is fickle

Life is a leaky sieve

Pas me a glass

And give me a bow

And drink to the “Countess Nobody” now

Why should I care

As long as I dare to live

Let’s run up the bill

As if we’re still royalty at play

In Russia

Land of yesterday

The night’s young

And Russians are mad, so

Let’s live in the land of yesterday

Live in the grand imperial heyday

Let’s live in the land of yesterday

Russia

Russia

Let’s brush off the days of old

And let’s hold the world at bay

Yes, here’s to

Russia

Here’s to

Russia

Here is to Russia

The land of yesterday

Land of yesterday