the butcher the baker the grocer the clerk are secretly unhappy men because the butcher the baker the grocer the clerk get paid for what they do but no applause they d gladly bid their dreary jobs goodbye for anything theatrical and why there s no business like show business like no business i know everything about it is appealing everything the traffic will allow nowhere could you get that happy feeling when you are stealing that extra bow there s no people like show people they smile when they re low even with a turkey that you know will fold you may be stranded out in the cold still you wouldn t change it for a sack of gold let s go on with the show the costumes the scenery the makeup the props the audience that lifts you when you re down the headaches the heartaches the backaches the flops the sheriff that escorts you out of town the opening when your heart beats like a drum the closing when the customers won t come there s no business like show business like no business i know you get word the show has started that your favorite uncle died at dawn top of that your pa and ma have parted you re broken hearted but you go on there s no people like show people they never ever run out of dough yesterday they told you you would not go far that night you opened and there you are next day on your dressing room they hung a star let s go on with the show