Some People
Composer(s): Jule Styne - Stephen Sondheim
First performance/First release by: Ethel Merman - 1959
Covered by multiple other artists



Some people can get a thrill
Knitting sweaters and sitting still
That's OK for some people
Who don't know they're alive
Some people can thrive and bloom
Living life in the living room
That's perfect for some people
Of one hundred and five
But I at least gotta try
When I think of
All the sights that I gotta see
All the places I gotta play
All the things I gotta be at
Come on Papa
What do you say?
Some people can be content
Playing bingo and paying rent
That's peachy for some people
For some hum-drum people to be
But some people ain't me!
I had a dream
A wonderful dream, Papa
All about June in the Orpheum Circuit
Gimme a chance and I know I can work it! I had a dream
Just as real as can be, Papa
There I was in Mr. Orpheum's office
And he was saying to me
"Rose, get yourself some new orchestrations
New routines and red velvet curtains
Get a feathered hat for the baby
Photographs in front of the theater
Get an agent and in jig time
You'll be being booked in the big time!"
Oh, what a dream!
A wonderful dream, Papa!
And all that I need is eighty-eight bucks, Papa
That's what he said
Only eighty-eight bucks
("You ain't getting eighty-eight cents from me, Rose
Well I'll get it someplace else! But I'll get it! And I'll get my kids out!")
Goodbye to blueberry pie!
Good riddance to all the socials I had to go to
All the lodges I had to play
All the shruners I said hello to
Hey L.A. I'm comin' your way!
Some people sit on their butts
Got the dream, Yeah, but not the guts
That's living for some people
For some hum-drum people
I suppose
Well, they can stay and rot!
But not Rose!!!