------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Life
Music: Cy Coleman
Lyrics: Ira Gasman
Book: David Newman + Ira Gasman + Cy Coleman
Premiere: Saturday, April 26, 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.PIECE OF THE ACTION
2.HE'S NO GOOD
3.USE WHAT YOU GOT
4.YOU CANT GET TO HEAVEN
5.I'M LEAVING YOU
6.MY BODY
7.THE COMPOSER'S TURN
THE OLDEST PROFESSION [Piano solo by Cy Coleman]
WAS THAT A SMILE? [Piano solo by Cy Coleman]
A LOVELY DAY TO BE OUT OF JAIL
8.MISTER GREED
9.WE HAD A DREAM
10.EASY MONEY
11.MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY
12.HOOKERS' BALL
13.PEOPLE MAGAZINE





1.PIECE OF THE ACTION

I feel like a pinball in a pinball machine
I always end up in the hole
The lights keep on flashing
If you know what I mean
But I always end up in the hole
This life I made ain't near
What I expect
You see I paid my dues
Now when do I collect

I wanna piece of the action
I wanna slice of a pie
I wanna get on the fast track
And kiss all of this goodbye
It's time for uppin' the ante
It's time for raisin' the stakes
I got the looks and the talent
I got whatever it takes

I started out in the gutter
I made it up to the street
I got my eye on a penthouse
A neat little penthouse suite
I'm gonna go for the glory
I'm gonna shoot for the moon
I wanna piece of the action
And I'm gonna get it
I'm gonna get it soon

Yes, I feel it comin'
I feel it comin' this time
And no one can stop me
Nothin' can stop me, now
And I got it comin', this time
And all those two bit tricks
Can take a walk
I got dreams as big as New York

I wanna piece of the high life
I wanna taste of the cream
I wanna play in the big leagues
And be on the winning team
I'm gonna go for the glory
I'm gonna shoot for the moon
I wanna piece of the action
And I'm gonna get it I'm gonna get it soon


2.HE'S NO GOOD


Everybody tells me that I'm wrong
Sticking with a man like him so long
Don't they think that 1 already know that
I discovered long ago that

He's no good
But I'm no good
Without him
Don't matter what he's done before
I keep on comin' back for more
He's a fool
But I'm a fool
About him
Believing that he'll change somehow
You think I would have learned by now
But there's nothing I can do
No place I can go
He is all I want
That is all I know
I should cut him loose
Oh, but what's the use
He's no good
But I'm no good without him


3.USE WHAT YOU GOT


When you're a hustler
There is one thing you should know
You gotta hustle every day
When you're a hustler
There's no time to take it slow
Gather ye suckers while ye may
Monday you're hot
Tuesday you're not
And that's the reason why they say...

You gotta use what got
To get whatcha want
Before whatcha got is gone
You gotta reach for that ring
When you're on that ride
How long does that ride go on?
You gotta learn every dance
Return every glance
While you have the chance to score
You gotta use whatcha got
To get whatcha want
Before you ain't got no more
Your clock starts running
On the day that you are born
It just keeps tick-tick-ticking on
There's only so much time to
Blow your little horn
Before your time has come
And gone
Wednesday you're new
Thursday you're through
It happens sooner than you know
That gravy train gets mighty slow
So as I told you a long time ago

You gotta use what got
To get whatcha want
Before whatcha got is gone
You got to reach for that ring
When you're on that ride
How long does that ride go on?
You gotta learn every dance
Return every glance
While you have the chance to score
You gotta use whatcha got
To get whatcha want
So take my advice
From this moment on
Remember to use whatcha got
To get e-ver-y-thing that you want
Before whatcha got is gone


4.YOU CANT GET TO HEAVEN


Oh children
You can't get to heaven
Singing one hallelujah, amen
You can't get to heaven
On one amen
No you can't get to heaven
0n one hallelujah
You got to hallelujah
Again and again

Eternal salvation
Is not coming to you
You can't flee temptation
For men will be men
No you can't get to heaven
On one hallelujah
You got to hallelujah
Again and again

No, you can't get to heaven
0n one hallelujah
You can't get to heaven
On one amen
'Cause one hallelujah
Won't do ya
You just got to hallelujah
Again and again

You can't get to heaven
0n one hallelujah
You can't get to heaven
On one amen
'Cause one hallelujah
Won't do ya
No, you can't get to heaven
0n one hallelujah
You can't get to heaven
On one amen
You can't get to heaven
0n one hallelujah
You got to hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Again and again


5.I'M LEAVING YOU


I never thought you'd hurt me
Bad enough
To make me tell you that
I've had enough
I thought that love would
Take us all the way
And now I hardly can believe
What I'm about to say
I'm leaving you

Whatever happened to that
Dream we used to share?
Whatever happened to that
Easy street out there?
Whatever happened to me and you?

I could take losing pride and losing face
1 could take anything but second place
You were the only joy I ever knew
But you can save your sweet talk, baby
'Cause your baby's through
Believing you
I'm leaving you


6.MY BODY


It's my body and my body
Is nobody's business but my own
Listen to me people
'Cause I wanna let it be known
It's my body and my body's
Nobody's business but my own

I know what I'm doing
So why don't you leave me alone
It's my body and my body's
Nobody's business but my own

I'm a grown up woman
And I know who I am
So if you got a problem
Well I don't give a damn
Ain't no doubt about it
'Cause baby it's written in stone
It's my body and my body's
Nobody's business but my own

I've had it up to here
With all you holier-than-thous
Who want to save me from the devils wicked den
Quit shoutin' in my ear
With All your curses and your vows
I only wish I never had to hear
Your voices again

Don't quote me no commandments
Don't preach me no jive
There's only one commandment
Thou shall survive
You don't even know me

So why don't you leave me alone
It's my body and my body's
Nobody's business but my own
Maybe you don't like it
But baby it's written in stone
It's my body
Not your bodyAnd my body
Is my business
My business
Is my business
And nobody's business
But my own

7.THE COMPOSER'S TURN

THE OLDEST PROFESSION
[Piano solo by Cy Coleman]

WAS THAT A SMILE?
[Piano solo by Cy Coleman]

A LOVELY DAY TO BE OUT OF JAIL

Ain't the weather fine
Ain't a cloud in sight
It's a lovely day to be outta jail
How that sun do shine
Like a golden light
What a lovely day to be outta jail

I been in the shade
If you know what I mean
Thanks to legal aid
I am back on the scene

If the sky turns gray
That'll be okay
I don't care if there be
Thunder and hail
'Cause the fact remains
Even if it rains
It's a lovely day to be outta jail
Ever if it rains
It's a lovely day to be outta jail
Winter ain't no thing
No, I don't give a damn
Every day is spring
When you're sprung
From the slam

This morning I could hardly wait
'Til it was time to journey
Through that iron gate
I threw back my head
Looked up at the sky and said...

Ain't the weather fine
Ain't a cloud in sight
It's a lovely day to be outta jail
How that sun do shine
What a lovely day to be outta jail
You won't see me frown
When the sun's outta sight
'Cause I'm getting down
With my baby tonight

Everything's okay
Far as I can see
It's a lovely day
When you're finally free


8.MISTER GREED


I'm the kind of gambler
Whose luck is guaranteed
Thanks to my partner
Mister Greed
He supplies the suckers
As many as I need
My silent partner Mister Greed
Ev'rybody wants to make a fast buck
That is why I always take
Their last buck

He's my handy helper
He's my friend indeed
He's the most important
Reason I succeed
I just pick tile lettuce
But guess who plants the seed
My trusty partner
Mister Greed

Oh what a team
Oh what a match he makes
He makes 'em itch
I make 'em scratch
And we both agree
We love to see those suckers bleed
Me and my partner
My trusty partner
Me and my partner
Mister Greed


9.WE HAD A DREAM


We had a dream
Don't you remember
We had a dream just you and me
Now and forever
We had a dream
Make a little magic every day
Never let the magic go away
Right from the start
Don't you remember
We had a dream

You were my man
I was your woman
That's all we knew
Nobody cared, nobody counted
Just me and you
Could 1t be you've had a change of heart?
Was this dreamer dreaming from the start?
Is it really time to say goodbye?
Doesn't love deserve another try?

Oh, don't you remember long ago
When love was all we had to know
And ev'ry touch would tell me so
I can tell you've had a change of heart
How could we have grown so far apart?
Is it really time to say goodbye?
Doesn't love deserve another try?
We had a dream
We had a dream
Don't let it die


10.EASY MONEY


Easy money
I'm learnin' how to make it
Easy money
You just reach out and take it
Ain't it funny how things can change
My take home really' was low
I never knew 1t was so...

Easy, honey
Just give 'em what they came for
Easy, honey
Just smile and play the game for...
Easy money
Don't let it end
Oh that easy money
Is so easy to spend

Told ya kid I'd be fine
Now ya see things are breakin'
What a night, it's a sign
From now on I'll be makin'...

Easy money
Don't let it end
Oh that easy money
Oh that easy money
It's so easy to spend


11.MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY


Listen girl and listen good
You ain't doin' like you should
Let's get one thing understood
It's my way or the highway

My way simply don't allow
Breaking every single vow
Make your mind up here and now
It's my way or the highway

There's one thing I'm certain of
I ain't gonna share your love
Bet you think you're pretty smart
Playing falsify with my heart
Time to make a brand new start
It's my way or the highway

There's one thing I'm certain of
I ain't gonna share your love

Time to get your act in shape
I ain't gonna bow and scrape
Better put this down on tape
It's my way or the highway
My way or the highway
It's gotta be my way

12.HOOKERS' BALL


Everybody save your bucks
Everybody rent your tux
Everybody dress deluxe
We're goin' to the hookers' ball

Invitations in the mall
Get your baby out of jail
Go ahead and make her bail
You're goin' to the hookers' ball

We're gonna eat and drink and be merry
We're gonna dance all over the floor
Every party at the party's gonna party,
Like they never partied before

Dress yourself as bold as brass
Give yourself a touch of class
Hurry up and move your ass
We're goin' to the hookers' ball

To New York and San Francisco
They all come from far and near
To attend this celebration
That is held one night a year

Only those in our profession
Are permitted in the hall
It's been here for generations
Welcome to the hookers' ball

How they dress will knock you out
And wake you up again
The diamonds shine, the colors shout
And that is just the men

Never seen folks makin' tracks
To line up at the door
Or seen 50 many Cadillacs
In just one place before

Soon the crowd is bustin' loose
A great big free-for-all
And though there is no Mother Goose
There really is a Hookers' Ball

Leave your troubles at the door
They will trouble you no more
Stay until your feet get sore
You're dancin' at the Hookers' Ball

Baby dig the atmosphere
Baby ain't you glad you're here
It's the party of the year
We're talkin' 'bout the hookers
Welcome to the Hookers'
Welcome to the Hookers' Ball


13.PEOPLE MAGAZINE


Girl:
Hey, mister piano man
I love the way you play

Boy:
Hey, pretty nightingale
You're gonna make it
Big someday

Girl:
Man, oh man, oh man
You play like no one can

Boy:
I'm your biggest fan

Both:
You're so swell that
I can tell that...
One of these days
You'll be one of those
People
In People Magazine

Boy:
Dining out with a big
Movie star

Girl:
Baby you're gonna dig caviar

Boy:
Hoppin' from party to party to party

Girl:
In your own limousine

Boy:
Hosting a bash

Girl:
Making a splash

Both:
In People Magazine

Girl:
Come with me and you
Can go as far as your talent gets you

Boy:
There's nothing here to hold me
You can be in Hollywood as fast as a Boeing
Jets you

Girl:
I'm packing
One of these days you'll be playing piano
Up on that silver screen

Boy:
Ev'rybody will know I'm alive

Girl:
While I'm shopping on Rodeo Drive

Both:
Living it up with the rich and the famous
Will be our new routine
You're gonna love you on the cover
Of People Magazine

Girl:
Hey, mister piano man,
Go ahead and play
That thing
You really turn me on
The way you make that
Piano sing
Hopping from party to
Party to party
In your own Limousine
Hosting a bash
Making a splash
Boy:
One of these days
You'll be one of those
People
In People Magazine
Dining out with a big
Movie star
Baby you're gonna dig
Caviar
Sing it for me nice and cool
Give it to me good and hot
Someday you'll be a star


Both:
'Cause what it takes
You've got

Girl:
Come with me and you
Can go as far as your
Talent lets you

Boy:
I can leave the minute
That we finish this number
You can be in Hollywood
As fast as a Boeing
Jets you

Girl:
Make a reservation

Both:
We're going now
Living it up with the rich and the famous
Will be our new routine

Girl:
You're gonna be one of those people

Boy:
You're gonna be one of those people

Both:
Won't it be great to be
One of those people
In People... People...
People...
People Magazine


Top