[Verse 1]
The director is drunk in the foyer
And can't find the exit door
And the star hears her five-minute call
Lying slumped on her bathroom floor
And the paint in the green room is peeling
And I'm feeling it's time to be gone

[Verse 2]
The writer has notes for a cast
Who refuses to learn its lines
They stumble all over the shop
Props never appear in time
So they silenced all of their critics
Who said their motivation was wrong

[Refrain]
Why, why, why
Why must the show go on?

[Verse 3]
The producer can't rally the troops
Ah, but hе won't admit defeat
Just when hе should be cutting his losses
He's casting a brand new lead
And he's paying off all of the judges
But the world isn't singing along
[Refrain]
Why, why, why
Why must the show go on?
Why must the show go on?

[Bridge]
Why won't they just call it curtains?
How long is a piece of string?
Well, who'll pull the plug on the giant marquee?
And why won't the fat lady sing?

[Verse 4]
The circle fell down on the stalls
And it landed on all of us
The audience streams down the aisles
Ghosts in our suits of dust
And that's what we get for our talking
And for leaving our cellphones on

[Refrain]
But why, why, why
Why must the show go on?

[Verse 5]
Well, I gave my advice to the stagehand
Who's never allowed to go home
Well, I said, "Just get out while you can"
As she swept up the stage with a comb
She just smiled, said, "What, and leave showbiz?"
Oh, and I knew this circus had won
[Refrain]
Why, why, why
Why must the show go on?

[Verse 6]
I know this is what we all live for
So no one admits that they're wrong

[Refrain]
But why, why, why
Why must the show go on?