When I think about all I've done and how little I had When I first started out to make good And the times were so bad All I owned I could hold In one battered old secondhand case As I traveled each mile A professional smile on my face Going tired and wet To yet one more forgettable place On with the show On with the show, I don't know why But it's so And on with the show On and on and on with the show I was never a child 'cause when you're poor You've got to work like a man For to eat you must earn The rest you learn when you can Every day, every night Is a fight when you're hungry and broke On the road, play a part Sing a song, tap a dance, tell a joke Break your heart for a smile For a crumb An occasional smoke On With the show On with the show, I don't know why But it's so And on with the show On and on and on with the show Then one night, there you are Your name's up there And you're a star Last week the audience ignored you Now they adore you They're waiting for you On and on and on On with the show On with the show, I don't know why But it's so And on with the show On and on and on On with the show On and on and on With the show