Merrily We Roll Along (1964-1962) / Good Thing Going

Lyrics

[TERRY] Dreams don't die So keep an eye on your dream— [FIRST BOY] 'Cause before you know where you are There you are [SECOND BOY] Time goes by And dreams go dry [BOTH BOYS] But you can't give up On your dream... [TERRY] Tend your dream Dreams take time Time goes by [BOTH BOYS] Some roads are easy Some roads are all uphill Some roads you plod along with a will Some roads you travel just for the thrill [TERRY] Bend your dream With the road [BOYS] Some rides are breezy Some roads are full of jiggles and bumps Can't let it get you down in the dumps [TERRY & BOYS] Don't let it get you down in the dumps! [FIRST BOY] 1964... [TERRY] 1963... [SECOND BOY] 1962... [GIRLS] Just roll Always roll [BOYS] Some roads are easy Some rides are breezy Some roads are all uphill [GIRLS] Everybody roll [BOYS] Some roads are full of bumps Know what you want to do Where you're willing to go [GIRLS] Keep an eye on your dream While you're traveling! [BOYS] What you really want to see While you're traveling! [1962. A cocktail party at JOE and GUSSIE's apartment.] [GUESTS (GROUP I), variously] Have you seen—? How was it—? You're not serious! Do you mean—? That does it! You're not serious! Have you seen—? How was it—? You're not serious! Do you mean—? That does it! You're not serious! Have you seen—? How was it—? You're not serious! Do you mean—? That does it! You're not serious! [GROUP II, overlapping] Darling! We saw the most—! Darling! We had the best—! Darling! We saw the most— Darling! See, it's the— [GROUP III, overlapping] Did you read—? It'll never—! We saw the first—! What they need—! Did you ever—! Was that the worst—? [ALL GUESTS] Best—! It's the first—! It's the finest—! It's the latest—! It's the least—! It's the worst—! It's the absolutely lowest—! It's the greatest—! It's the single—! It's the only—! It's the perfect—! It's the—! [GROUP I] Hi! [GROUP II] Dreadful! [GROUP III] Fabulous! [GUSSIE bangs on the piano.] [GUSSIE, spoken] All right, now quiet, everybody Fermez all those bouches Because someday you are going to be able to say, "I was there when" The most exciting composer ever Is going to play a song we hope will be in our new show And when he finishes You're all going to want to swallow poison Because there'll be nothing more to live for [CHARLEY, spoken] Frank, what is she talking about? [FRANK, spoken] Later, Charley [FRANK starts to play the intro on the piano.] [CHARLEY] It started out like a song We started quiet and slow With no surprise And then one morning I woke To realize We had a good thing going It's not that nothing went wrong: Some angry moments, of course But just a few And only moments, no more Because we knew We had this good thing going And if I wanted too much Was that such A mistake At the time? You never wanted enough— All right, tough I don't make That a crime And while it's going along You take for granted some love Will wear away We took for granted a lot And still I say: It could have kept on growing Instead of just kept on We had a good thing going Going Gone [Much applause and oohing and ahhing follows.] [GUSSIE, spoken] Keep them right there We want to hear it again Tell them! One mo' time! [CHARLEY, spoken] Frank, say "No" [FRANK, spoken] Charley, they loved it They thought we were great [CHARLEY, spoken] You wanna know what true greatness is? It's knowing when to get off [FRANK, spoken] I'll sing with you [CHARLEY, spoken] No, no— [FRANK, spoken] Come on [CHARLEY, spoken] No, that's not the point I really— [CHARLEY & FRANK] It started out like a song We started quiet and slow With no surprise And then one morning I woke To realize— [TERRY] So we bought this little condominium— [CHARLEY & FRANK] We had a good thing going [GUSSIE, spoken] Shh! [CHARLEY] It's not that nothing went wrong: Some angry moments— [A GUEST] Did you hear—? [JEROME] No kidding—! [GWEN] You're not serious! [CHARLEY] Of course But just a few [KATE, spoken] Shh! [CHARLEY] And only moments, no more [JOE] Dadadadada— [GUSSIE, spoken] Shh! [GWEN] It's a clear case of Tammany politics [A GUEST] We were stuck in the tunnel till half past six! [GUEST] Darling! They're perfectly darling! [CHARLEY] Because we knew We had this good thing going [GUESTS' babbling overtakes the singing.] [GUESTS] It's only the best— It's the first— It's the finest— It's the latest— It's the least— It's the worst— It's the absolutely lowest— It's the greatest— It's the single— It's the only— It's the perfect— It's the— [CHARLEY] And if I wanted too much Was that such A mistake At the—