Newsies Lyrics
Don't be scared, but I really DO have all these memorized. I guess all my friends are right, I AM a Newsies freak!
Prologue | Carrying the Banner | Santa Fe | My Lovey-Dovey Baby | Fightin' Irish: Strike Action* | The World Will Know | Escape from Snyder* | Seize the Day | King of New York | High Times,Hard Times | Seize the Day (Chorale) | Santa Fe (Reprize) | Rooftop* | Once and For All | The World Will Know (Reprise) | Carrying the Banner (Finale)
Prologue
"In 1899, the streets of New York City echoed with the voices of newsies, peddlin' the newspapers of Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, and other giants of the newspaper world. On every corner you saw 'em carrying the banner, bringing you the news for a penny a pape. Poor orphans and runaways, the newsies were a ragged army, without a leader. Until one day, all that changed..."Carryin' the Banner
That's my cigar!
You'll steal anudder!
Hey, bummers, we got work ta do!
Since when did you become me mudder?
Ah, stop yer bawlin'!
Hey, who ast you?
Try Bottle Alley or the Harbor
Try Central Park, it's 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...
Ah, move yer elbow!
Pass the towel!
For a buck I might!
Ain't it a fine life
Carrying the banner through it all?
A mighty fine life
Carrying the banner tough and tall
Ev'ry mornin', we goes where we wishes
We's as free as fishes
Sure beats washin' dishes
What a fine life
Carrying the banner home free all!
It takes a smile as sweet as butter
The kind that ladies can't resist
It takes an orphan with a stutter
Who ain't afraid to use his
Fist!
Summer stinks and winter's waitin'
Welcome to New York
Boy, ain't nature fascinatin'
When youse gotta walk?
Still it's a fine life
Carrying the banner with me chums
A mighty fine life
Blowin' ev'ry nickel as it comes
I'm no snoozer
Sittin' makes me antsy
I likes livin' chancey
Harlem to Delancey
What a fine life
Carrying the banner through the slums
Blessed children
Though you wander lost and depraved
Jesus loves you
You shall be saved
Patrick,
(Just give me half a cup)
Darling
(Somethin' to wake me up)
Since you left me
(I gotta find an angle)
I am undone
(I gotta sell more papes)
Mother
(Papers is all I got
Wish I could catch a breeze)
Loves you
(Sure hope the headline's hot
All I can catch is fleas)
God save
(God help me if it's not
Somebody help me please)
my son!
If I hate the headline
I'll make up a headline
And I'll say anything I hafta
Cause at two for a penny
If I take too many
Weasel just makes me eat 'em afta
Look! They're puttin' the headline
(What's it say?)
You call that a headline?
(That won't pay)
I get better stories from the copper on the beat
(So where's your spot?)
I was gonna start with twenty
(God, it's hot.)
Now a dozen'll be plenty
(Will ya tell me...)
How's a guy s'posed to make ends meet?
We need a good assassination
We need an earthquake or a war
How 'bout a crooked policitican?
Hey, stupid, that ain't news no more!
Uptown to Grand Central Station
Down to City Hall
We improves our circulation
Walkin' till we fall!
(**sung in rounds with next verse**)
Still we'll be out there
Carrying the banner man to man
We'll be out there
Soakin' every sucker that we can
See the headlines
Newsies on a mission
Kill the competition
Sell the next edition
While we're out there
Carrying the banner is the..
Did ya hear about the headline?
They call that a headline?
The idiot what wrote it must be workin' for the Sun
Did ya hear about the fire?
Heard it killed Old Man McGuire
Heard the toll was even higher
Why do I miss all the fun?
Hitched it on a trolley
Meet ya Fourty-fourth and Second
Little Italy's a secret
Bleeker's further than I reckoned
By the courthouse, near the stables
On the corner someone beckoned and I...
(**sung in rounds with next verse**)
It's a fine life
Carrying the banner through it all
A mighty fine life
Carrying the banner tough and tall
See the headline
Newsies on a mission
Kill the competition
Sell the next edition
What a fine life
Carrying the banner
Look! They're putting up the headline
You call that headline?
I get better stories from the copper on the beat
I was gonna start with twenty
But a dozen'll be plenty
????????????
Hitched it on a trolley
Meet ya Fourty-fourth and Second
Little Italy's a secret
Bleeker's further than I reckoned
By the courthouse, near the stables
On the corner someone beckoned and I...
It's a fine life
Go get 'em, Cowboy!
Carrying the banner
You got 'em now, boy!
It's a fine life
Go get 'em, Cowboy!
Carrying the banner
You got 'em now, boy!
It's a fine life
Go get 'em, Cowboy!
Carrying the banner
You got 'em now, boy!
It's a--Go!
Santa Fe
So that's what they call a family
Mother, daughter, father, son
Guess that every thing you heard about is true
So you ain't got any family
Well, who said you needed one?
Ain't ya glad nobody's waitin' up for you?
When I dream
On my own
I'm alone but I ain't lonely
For a dreamer, night's the only time of day
When the city's finally sleeping
All my thoughts begin to stray
And I'm on the train that's bound for Santa Fe
And I'm free
Like the wind
Like I'm gonna live forever
It's a feeling time can never take away
All I need's a few more dollars
And I'm outta here to stay
Dreams come true
Yes they do
In Santa Fe
Where does it say you gotta live and die here?
Where does it say a guy can't catch a break?
Why should you only take what you're given?
Why should you spend your whole life living
Trapped where there ain't no future
Even at seventeen
Breakin' your back for someone else's sake
If the life don't seem to suit ya
How 'bout a change of scene?
Far from the lousy headlines
And the deadlines in between
Santa Fe, are you there?
Do you swear you won't forget me?
If I found you would you let me come and stay?
I ain't gettin' any younger
And before my dyin' day
I want space
Not just air
Let 'em laugh in my face
I don't care
Save a place
I'll be there
So that's what they call a family
Ain't you glad you ain't that way?
Ain't you glad you got a dream called Santa Fe?
My Lovey-Dovey Baby
My lovey-dovey baby
I boo hoo hoo for you
I used to be your tootsie-wootsie
Then you said toodly-do
I miss the hanky-panky
Each nighty-nite till three
Come back my lovey-baby
And coochie-coo with me
Our life was ducky-wucky
So goody-good were we
Come back my lovey-dovey baby
And coochie-coo with me
The World Will Know
Pulitzer and Hearst, they think we're nothin'!
Are we nothin'? (No!)
Pulitzer and Hearst, they think they got us!
Do they got us? (No!)
Even though we ain't got hats or badges
We're a union just by sayin' so!
And the World will know!
What's it gonna take to stop the wagons?
Are we ready? (Yeah!)
What's it gonna take to stop the scabbers?
Can we do it? (Yeah!)
We'll do what we gotta do
Until we break the will of
Mighty Bill and Joe
And the World will know!
And the Journal, too!
Mister Hearst and Pulitzer
Have we got news for you!
Now the world will hear
What we got to say
We've been hawkin' headlines
But we're makin' them today!
And our ranks will grow
And we'll kick their rear!
And the world will know that we've been here!
When the circulation bell starts ringing,
Will we hear it? (No!)
What if the Delanceys come out swinging?
Will we hear it? (No!)
When you got a hundred voices singing
Who can hear a lousy whistle blow?
And the World will know!
That this ain't no game
That we got a ton of rotten fruit
And perfect aim
So they gave their word
Well, it ain't worth beans!
Now they're gonna see what stop the presses really means
And the day has come
And the time is now
And the fear is gone
And our name is mud
And the strike is on
And I can't stand blood
And the world will fall...
Pulitzer may own The World
But he don't own us!
(Pulitzer may own The World
But he don't own us)
Pulitzer may crack the whip
But he won't whip us!
(Pulitzer may crack the whip
But he won't whip us!)
And the World will know!
And the world will learn!
And the world will wonder how
We made the tables turn
And the World will see
That we had to choose
That the things we do today
Will be tomorrow's news
And the old will fall
And the young stand tall
And the time is now
And the winds will blow
And our ranks will grow
And grow, and grow, and so
The World will feel the fire
And finally know!
Seize the Day
Open the gates and seize the day
Don't be afraid and don't delay
Nothing can break us
No one can make us
Give our rights away
Arise and seize the day
Now is the time to seize the day!
(Now is the time to seize the day!)
Send out the call and join the fray!
(Send out the call and join the fray!)
Wrongs will be righted if we're united
Let us seize the day!
Friends of the friendless, seize the day!
(Friends of the friendless, seize the day!)
Raise up the torch and light the way!
(Raise up the torch and light the way!)
Proud and defiant, we'll slay the giant
Let us seize the day!
Neighbor to neighbor
Father to son
One for all and all for one!
Open the gates and seize the day!
(Open the gates and seize the day!)
Don't be afraid and don't delay!
(Don't be afraid and don't delay!)
Nothing can break us
No one can make us
Give our rights away
Neighbor to neighbor
Father to son
One for all and all for one!
King of New York
A pair of new shoes with matchin' laces
A permanent box at the Sheepshead Races
A porcelain tub with boilin' water
A Saturday night with the mayor's daughter!
Look at me!
I'm the king of New York!
Suddenly, I'm respectable
Starin' right at ya
Lousy with stature
Nobbin' with all the muckety-mucks
I'm blowin' my dough and goin' deluxe
Then there I be
Ain't I pretty?
It's my city
I'm the king of New York!
A cordouroy suit with fitted knickers
A mezzanine seat to see the flickers
Havana cigars that cost a quarter
An editor's desk for the star reporter!
Tip your hat, he's the king of New York!
How 'bout that? I'm the king of New York!
In nothin' flat, he'll be coverin'
Brooklyn to Trenton
Our man Denton
Makin' the headlines out of a hunch
Protectin' the weak
And payin' for lunch
When I'm at bat, strong men crumble
Proud, yet humble
I'm (he's) the King of New York
I gotta be either dead or dreamin'
Cause look at that pape with my face beamin'
Tomorrow they may wrap fishes in it
But I was a star for one whole minute!
Starting now, I'm the king of New York
Ain't ya heard? I'm the king of New York!
Holy cow! It's a miracle!
Pulitzer's cryin'
Weasel, he's dyin'
Flashpots are shootin' bright as the sun
I'm one hot falutin' son-of-a-gun
Don't ask me how
Fortune found me
Fate just crowned me
I'm the king of New York
Look and see
Once a piker
Now a striker
I'm the king of New York
Victory!
Front page story
Guts and glory
I'm the king of New York!
High Times, Hard Times
High times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there's nothing to eat
But I always lands on my feet
So when there's dry times
I wait for high times and then I put on my best
And I stick my chest
And I'm off to the races again!
My good friend the Mayor
He called me today
He said, "Medda, the voters are turning away!"
"Help me!" he cried, "Or they'll give me the ax!"
I said, "Your Honor,"
"You've got to relax!"
Everybody!
High times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there's nothing to eat
But I always lands on my feet
So when there's dry time
I wait for high times and then
I put on my best
And I stick out my chest
and I'm off to the races again!
So your old lady don't love you no more
So you're afraid there's a wolf at your door
So you got street rats that scream in your ear
You win some, you lose some, my dear!
Oh, high times, hard times
Sometimes the living is sweet
And sometimes there's nothing to eat
But I always lands on my feet
So when there's dry times
I wait for high times and then
I put on my best
And I stick out my chest
And I'm off to the races again!
I put on my best
I put on my best
Ah, yes, and I stick out my chest!
And I sticks out my chest!
And I'm off!
And I'm off!
And I'm off!
And I'm off!
And I'm off to the races again!
Seize the Day (Chorale)
Open the gates and seize the day
Dont be afraid and dont delay
Nothing can break us
No one can make us
Give our rights away
Arise and seize the day!
Santa Fe (Reprise)
Santa Fe
My old friend
I can't spend my whole life hidin'
You're the only light that's guidin' me today
Will ya keep a candle burnin'?
Will you help me find my way?
You're my chance
To break free
And who knows when my next one will be?
Santa Fe, wait for me
Once and For All
This is the story you wanted to write
Well, tonight is the night that you can
Just get this done and by dawn's early light
You can finish the fight you began
This time we're in it to stay
Think about seizing the day
Think of that train as she rolls into old Santa Fe
Tell 'em I'm on my way!
See Old Man Pulitzer snug in his bed
He don't care if we're dead or alive
Three satin pillows are under his head
While we're beggin' for bread to survive
Joe, if you're still countin' sheep
Wake up, and read 'em and weep
You got your thugs with their sticks and their slugs
Yeah, but we got a promise to keep
Once and for all something tells me tide'll be turnin'
Once and for all there's a fire inside me that won't stop burnin'
Now that the choices are clear
Now that tomorrow is here
Watch how the mighty can fall
For once and for all!
This is for kids shining shoes in the street
With no shoes on their feet every day
This is guys sweatin' blood in the shops
While the bosses and cops look away
This is to even the score
This ain't just newsies no more
This ain't just kids with some pie in the sky
This is do it or die
This is war!
Once and for all, we'll be there to defend one another
Once and for all, every kid is a friend, every friend a brother
Five thousand fists in the sky
Five thousand fists in the sky
Five thousand reasons to try
Five thousand reasons to try
We're goin' over the wall
Better to die than to crawl
Either we stand or we fall
For once
Once and for all!
The World Will Know (Reprise)
When the circulation bell starts ringing,
Will we hear it? (Nah)
What if the Delanceys come out swinging?
Will we hear it? (No!)
When you got a million voices singing
Who can hear a lousy whistle blow?
And the World will know!
And the World will feel the fire
And finally know!
Carrying the Banner (Finale)
Try Bottle Alley or the Harbor,
Try Central Park, it's guaranteed;
Try any banker, bum, or barber,
They almost all knows how to read.
Summer stinks and winter's waitin';
Welcome to New York;
Boy, ain't nature fascinatin',
When youse gotta walk?
It's a fine life
(You got em cowboy),
Carrying the banner;
It's a fine life
(You showed em cowboy),
Carrying the banner;
It's a fine life
(You got em cowboy),
Carrying the banner;
It's a fine life
(You showed em cowboy),
Carrying the banner
