I was bowled over when I first played the tape of this song, whitch Jimmy sent me very early in our work. Who on earth, I thought, could write such a song with such a title, and how could he make it come out so melodious and amusing? The hero of the novel, Norman Paperman, is indeed a Broadway press agent, and Public Relations is what he is escaping from after a nasty heart attack, to start life over on a tropical paradise. That is a dream that many peaple have, and Don't Stop the Carnival tells the funny and sad tell of Norman's awakening.



Spoken:

I was born on an island

The island of Manhatten

Dreamt all my life of a career on the

Great White way

Producer Norman Paperman

Director Norman Paperman

And I made it!

In sort of an off the wall way I found my

Calling-Listen



Singing:

Up every morning, out every evening

Hustling for headlines, that's what I do

Table at Sardi's, grappling for gossip

Working the press for a mention or two

[Paperman Cont.] I never acted like some nervous rookie

Right form the start I was hot as a cookie

I was a numero uno

What a debut



Chorus:

Public Relations, Public Relations

Boozing and schmoozing, that's what I do

PR's my vocation

And I'm a sensation

Public relations

Such hullabaloo



But I went full throttle

Never could slow down

Then out of nowhere a mild heart attack

Middle age crisis

Face the big questions

Had to get off of this foolish fast track

It all started out

As an add in the paper

Now it's turned into

A tropical caper

But it's only public relations

And thats what I do



Chorus:

Public Relations, Public Relations

Ego inflation, that's what I do

Isn't it wonderful, isn't it fabulou

Public Relations, such hullabaloo



Iris:

Give this some thought Norman

Things can get sticky

Here in the tropics

Wine turns to glue



Norman:

I've never seen such a beauitful ocean



Iris:

Holy sweet Jeues, he's got no clue



Norman:

I'll buy this place

I am expatriating



Iris:

You as a landlord

Sounds intoxicating



Both:

It's only Public Relations

Who's screwing who



Chorus:

No, not that old PR

Of the yacking and quacking

Making folks happy

That's what I'll do

Sun shine and sea air

Palm trees, martinis

That's what I yearn for--like you, you, and you

Just give me some time

And I'll make it come true!