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

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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3 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentSome of the most haunting piano I have ever heard. Death is inevitable.
    snakeJakeon January 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretationhowdy, firstly let me express my general positive approach to living mime and mine onlies life. I beliew in the positive as being jouous, grateful contented and as happy as I can be, its taken a while to understand this as we are constantly bombarded by radio, tv news movies and music that express repeatly all the negative aspects of life(i.e. you can get a disease of hit by a car ,etc.,) it goes on and on and it dominates most peoples lives, but noy mine my own show(life) gors on.
    Therefore my interpation of this song is from the other end of the looking glass and I would be happy to discuss this song with anyone; my e-mail is jalanwood@gmail.com.,I'm not certain this song is about death or that it is even an end in itself to ones show, From my positive viewpoint I look at death as a part of life AND the cntinuine of life. You may disagree but having had sveral nesr death experiences-I found it always a peaceful place both ready to return or fade away- which my instincts and mind goverened by reason allow me to think and feel this way. Indeed the show is a continuum and you shall go forth. I think the song's ending can be regarded this way, the music is great the beat and everything goes on; its a mindset don't you know, Enjoy, Jimi
    jalanon July 21, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationSong laments a lost love who fell for a mystery man (the man in the long coat) who was a serial heartbreaker. He is waiting for and watching her but she continues in her self-destructive path.
    ned1040774on January 01, 2023   Link

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