What's the long face, what's all the crying for
Didn't you expect it when you opened your door
To the man with the long coat and the long list of victims
Everybody watching knows he's the one keeping score
From where she sits, everyone stands in judgment
People watching as the curtain falls down
See the lights do a long slow fade

The show goes on, and the sad-eyed sisters go walking on
Everyone watching all along
The show goes on, as the autumn's coming
And the summer's all gone
Still without you, the show goes on

Some say she's alright, some say she'll never learn
Some rush into things, some stand and wait their turn
I've been here all along standing here all this time
But you never noticed, just let the same tired flames burn
From where she sits, everyone stands in judgment
People watching as the curtain falls down
See the lights do a long slow fade

The show goes on, and the sad-eyed sisters go walking on
Everyone watching all along
The show goes on, as the autumn's coming
And the summer's all gone
Still without you, the show goes on

Time is passing,slowly passing you by
You better try to find it before it passes you by
As I watch you walking to another cold dawn
And you keep on walking
And they keep on talking
Talking all along

From where she sits, everyone stands in judgment
People watching as the curtain falls down
See the lights do a long slow fade
The show goes on, and the sad-eyed sisters go walking on
Everyone watching all along
The show goes on, as the autumn's coming
And the summer's all gone
Still without you, the show goes on


Lyrics submitted by wellbutrin, edited by mjorlando

The Show Goes On Lyrics as written by Bruce Hornsby

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

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The Show Goes On song meanings
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    General Comment

    Norfolk, VA and Navy life. Hornsby's hometown and a large naval base. The lyrics are full of local references, starting with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, (the diesel rolls in silhouette) as it does on the photo on the album, trying to make it with the Admiral's daughter (cross her battle line is a naval war technique) and setting up on the bandstand refers to his early music career. Sailors hear the whistle blow, violence in the afterglow is a great line!

    JChadon April 26, 2024   Link

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