The butcher, the baker, the grocer, the clerk
Are secretly unhappy men because
The butcher, the baker, the grocer, the clerk
Get paid for what they do but no applause
They'd gladly bid their dreary jobs goodbye
For anything theatrical and whyThere's no business like show business
Like no business, I knowEverything about it is appealing
Everything, the traffic will allow
Nowhere could you get that happy feeling
When you are stealing that extra bowThere's no people like show people
They smile when they're low
Even with a turkey that you know will fold
You may be stranded out in the cold
Still you wouldn't change it for a sack of gold
Let's go on with the showThe costumes, the scenery, the makeup, the props
The audience that lifts you when you're down
The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops
The sheriff who escorts you out of town
The opening when your heart beats like a drum
The closing when the customers won't comeThere's no business like show business
Like no business, I knowYou get word before the show has started
That your favorite uncle died at dawn
Top of that, your pa and ma have parted
You're broken hearted but you go onOoh, there's no people like show people
They never ever run out of doughYesterday, they told you, "You would not go far"
That night you opened and there you are
Next day, on your dressing room they've hung the star
Let's go on with the show, on with the show
On with the show, on with the show
Songwriters
Irving BerlinPublished by
IRVING BERLIN MUSIC COMPANY