I Know You

I recognize your majesty
Of course you do
You silly goose
I am the queen, of course you knew
My profile is on every Franc and every sou
I know who you are
I recognize your majesty from days gone by
The small chateau where I grew up? Perhaps Versailles?
That tawdry inn, in the Pigale, I cannot lie
I know who you are
But why dredge up old memories?
Times you got swimmingly through
You’d have preferred that I had never breathd a word
I know you
I know you
Come closer, dear, it’s coming back a tiny trac
I must admit, I never quite forget a face
Though every feature’s in a slightly different place
I know who you are
I vaguely see you dancing with a beefy man
You’re thinking of the Ballets Russes, where I began
A pas de deux
But with a rose, and with a fan
I know who you are
But why poke through your chifforobe?
One never knows what one finds
Though in the end you may dig up a useful friend
Two like minds
I know you
You’ve quite a knack for bringing back old memories
To help you, dear, to see the forest for the trees
Now I recall you dressed in tights, on a trapeze?
I know who you are
Another time, another place and way back when
So many years, so many nights
So many men
Remind me, dear one, did I ever like you then?
I know who you are
What a joy to see you again
Straight from the «how do you do»
To in the end discovering a long-lost friend
I know you
I know you