That's my cigar!
You'll steal annuda!
Hey, bummers, we got work to do!
Since when did you become me mudda?
Ah, stop yer bawlin'!
Hey! Who ast you?

[movie lines]

Try Bottle Alley or the Harbor
Try Central Park, its guaranteed!
Try any banker, bum, or barber
They almost all knows how to read!

I smell money!
You smell foul!
Met this girl last night...
Move your elbows!
Pass the towel!
For a buck, I might!

Ain't it a fine life, carryin' the banner through it all!
A mighty fine life, carryin' the banner tough and tall!
Every mornin', we goes where we wishes
We're as free as fishes
Sure beats washin' dishes
What a fine life, carryin' the banner home-free all!

Summer stinks and winter's waitin
Welcome to New York!
Boy, ain't nature fascinatin'
When yous gotta walk?
Still, its a fine life, carryin' the banner with me chums!
A mighty fine life, blowin' every nickel as it comes!

I'm no snoozer
Sittin' makes me antsy
I likes livin' chancey
Harlem to Delancey
What a fine life, carryin' the banner through the slums!

[nuns]
Blessed children
Though you wander, lost and depraved
Jesus loves you!
You shall be saved!

[a wandering mother]
Patrick, darling
Since you left me, I am undone
Mother loves you!
God, save my son!

Just gimme half a cup
Somethin' to wake me up
I gotta find an angle
I gotta sell more papes!

Papers is all I got
Wish I could catch a breeze
Sure hope the headline's hot
All I can catch is fleas
God, help me if its not!
Somebody, help me please...

If I hate the headlines
I'll make up the headline
And I'll say anything I have to
'Cuz at two for a penny
If I take too many
Weasel just makes me eat 'em afta

Look! They're puttin' up the headline!
You call that a headline?
Get better stories
From the copper on the beat!
I was gonna start at twenty
Now a dozen'll be plenty
Tell me how I'm gonna make ends meet!

What's it say?
That won't pay!
So where's your spot?
God, its hot!
Will you tell me
How'm I gonna make ends meet!

We need a good assassination!
We need an earthquake or a war!
How 'bout a crooked politician!
Hey, stupid, that ain't news no more!
Uptown to Grand Central Station
Down to City Hall
We improves our circulation
Walking till we fall

Still we'll be out here, carryin' the banner man to man!
We'll be out here, soakin' every sucka that we can!
See the headline:
Newsies on a mission!
Kill the competition
Sell the next edition
While we're out there
Carryin' the banner is the-

Look! They're puttin' up the headline!
They call that a headline?
That idiot who wrote it
Must be working for The Sun!
Did you hear about the fire?
Heard it killed Ol' Man Maguire!
Heard the toll was even higher!
Why do I miss all the fun?
Hitched it on a trolley
Meet ya fory-fourth and second
Little Italy's a secret
Bleecker's further than I reckoned
By the courthouse
Near the stables
On the coner someone beckoned and I-

Its a fine life, carryin' the banner through it all!
A mighty fine life, carryin' the banner tough and tall!
See the headline:
Newsies on a mission!
Kill the competition!
Sell the next edition!
What a fine life, carryin' the banner!
Its a fine life, carryin' the banner!
Its a fine life, carryin' the banner!
Its a fine life, carryin' the banner!
Its a fine life, carryin' the banner!
Its a, GO!

Would you look at that headline?
You call that a headline?
I get better stories
From the copper on the beat!
I was gonna start with twenty
Now a dozen'll be plenty
Would you tell me how I'm ever
Gonna make ends meet!
Hitched it on a trolley
Meet ya forty-fourth and second
Little Italy's a secret!
Bleecker's further than I reckoned
By the courthouse
Near the stables
On the corner someone beckoned
Go get 'em cowboy
You got 'em now boy
Go get 'em cowboy
You got 'em now boy
Go!


Lyrics submitted by manprettys_panties

Carry The Banner song meanings
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1 Comment

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    General Comment

    ah..this song is fun to dance and sing along to.. and christian bale, in newsies, is really hot.. :)

    funstuffon March 04, 2006   Link

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