The cowboys, the wrestlers, the tumblers, the clowns,
The roustabouts that move the show at dawn
The music, the spotlights, the people, the towns
Your package with the labels pasted on
The sawdust and the horses and the smell
The towel you've taken from the last hotel
There's no business like show business like no business I know
Everything about it is appealing,
everything that 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 are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far,
that night you open and there you are
Next day on your dressing room they've hung a star,
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 who 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 before the show has started
that your favourite uncle died at dawn
Top of that, your ma and pa have parted,
you're broken-hearted, but you go on
There's no people like show people, they don't run out of dough
Angels come from everywhere with lots of jack,
and when you lose it, there's no attack
Where could you get money that you don't give back?
Let's go on with the show
There's no business like show business if you tell me it's so
Traveling through the country is so thrilling
Standing out in front on opening nights
Smiling as you watch the benches filling
And see your billing out there in lights
There's no people like show people
They smile when they are 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 o' gold
Let's go on with the show
Let's go on with the show!