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 why



There's no business like show business

Like no business I know

Everything about it is appealing

Everything the traffic will allow

Nowhere could you get that happy feeling

When you are stealing that extra bow



There'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 show



The 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 that escorts you out of town

The opening when your heart beats like a drum

The closing when the customers won't come



There's no business like show business

Like no business I know

You get word 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 on



There's no people like show people

They never ever run out of dough

Yesterday they told you you would not go far

That night you opened and there you are

Next day on your dressing room they hung a star

Let's go on with the show