A song from “Funny Girl”, 1964.
Words by Bob Merrill.
Music by Jule Styne.
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by James Pitt-Payne:
Lyrics
If you live your life
Life is bound to teach you
That you’re half alive
Unless you let life reach you
I’ve been a damned machine
Push a button and I dance
Turn a handle and I sing
Now this machine will fly
And just one guy will wind the spring
Chorus
Don’t tell me not to fly
I’ve simply got to
If someone takes a spill
It’s me and not you
Don’t bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade
Don’t tell me not to live
Just sit and putter
Life’s candy and the sun’s a ball of butter
Who told you you’re allowed
To rain on my parade
I’ll march my band out
I’ll beat my drum
And if I’m fanned out
Your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn’t fake it
Hat, sir, I guess I didn’t make it
But whether I’m the rose
Of sheer perfection
Or freckle on the nose
Of life’s complexion
The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye
I gotta fly once, I gotta try once
Only can die once, right, sir?
Ooh, life is juicy
Juicy and you’ll see
I gotta have my bite, sir
Get ready for me, love
‘Cause I’m a “comer”
I simply gotta march,
My heart’s a drummer
Don’t bring around a cloud
To rain on my parade
I’m gonna live and live now
Get what I want, I know how
All that the law will allow
One roll for the whole shebang
One throw, that bell will go clang
Tho’ I’m alone I’m a gang
Eye on the target and wham
One shot, one gun shot, and bam
Hey, world, here I am
Get ready for me, love
‘Cause I’m a “comer”
I simply gotta march
My heart’s a drummer
Nobody, no, nobody
Is gonna rain on my parade