1994 Off-Broadway Cast of Merrily We Roll Along
Now You Know
[SCOTTY]
So you've made a mistake
So you're singing the blues
So you'll take some time, go visit some places—
[MARY]
You gotta be somewhere
Where there's nothing to remind you—
Right?
[TYLER]
What you need is a break—
I'll arrange a nice cruise
You'll relax a bit and see some new faces—
[CHARLEY & MARY]
You've gotta do something
But just never look behind you
[CHARLEY, MARY & TYLER]
Right?
[SCOTTY & K.T.]
Best thing that ever could have happened—
[FRANK, spoken]
Right.
[JOE]
So you'll sit in the sun
You'll come back with a tan
Then we’ll do that show you've always been talking
[SCOTTY]
The side is retired
So we start another inning—
Right?
[DORY]
On a boat is such fun—
[JEROME]
You'll come back a changed man—
[TYLER]
I've had lots of guests and no one's squawking—
[CHARLEY & MARY]
Feels like an ending
But it's really a beginning—
Right?
[SCOTTY]
Best thing that ever could have happened—
[JOE]
Best thing that ever could have happened
[K.T.]
One more thing not to think about…
[SCOTTY]
I say, best thing that ever could have happened—
[FRANK, spoken]
Right!
[MARY]
All right, now you know:
Life is crummy
Well, now you know
I mean, big surprise:
People love you and tell you lies
Bricks can tumble from clear blue skies
Put your dimple down
Now you know
Okay, there you go—
That’s the sum of it
Now you know
It's called flowers wilt
It's called apples rot
It's called thieves get rich and saints get shot
It's called God don't answer prayers a lot
Okay, now you know
Okay, now you know
Now forget it
Don't fall apart at the seams
It's called letting go your illusions
And don't confuse them with dreams
If the going's slow
Don't regret it
And don't let’s go to extremes
It's called what’s your choice?
It's called count to ten
It's called burn your bridges, start again
You should burn them every now and then
Or you'll never grow!
Because now you grow
That’s the killer is
Now you grow
All right, nothing's fair
And it’s all a plot
And tomorrow doesn’t look too hot—
Right, you better look at what you’ve got:
Over here, hello!
Okay, now you know
Right?
[JOE]
So you’ll find a new gal—
[JOE & SCOTTY]
So you’ll write a new play—
In a month or two, you're going to thank us
[MARY]
You may have missed one road
But there’s plenty more to follow
Right?
[TYLER]
We’ll go through the canal
Up the coast to L.A.
You'll come see the place I’m building at Trancas—
[CHARLEY]
You hang around here, pal
And you're only gonna wallow
Right?
[ALL]
Right!
[JOE & TYLER]
Best thing that ever could have happened!
[MARY]
I mean, you'll come back
I mean, what’s the fuss?
[CHARLEY]
I mean, sea and sun and comfort plus
[CHARLEY & MARY]
I mean, after all, you’ve still got us
Best thing that ever could have happened!
[ALL]
Best thing that ever could have happened!
Best thing that ever could have happened!
It was all getting much too complicated…
It was all getting much too complicated…
Best thing that ever could have happened!
[FRANK]
Right!
You've gotta let go
Gotta do it from scratch
Take a long deep breath
Go back to your sources
A little vacation
Which is all about forgetting—
Right?
[ALL]
Right!
[FRANK]
Right!
Then we’ll do a new show—
No, we’ll do a whole batch
Maybe one that’s all about divorces!
I mean, a divorce court—
What a fascinating setting!
Right?
[ALL]
Right!
[FRANK, spooken]
Right!
[GROUP I]
Best thing that ever could have happened…
Best thing that ever could have happened…
I say, best thing that ever could have happened…
I say, best thing that ever could have happened…
It's your time, your time…
[GROUP II]
Yesterday is done
See the pretty countryside
Soon enough you’re merrily merrily
Rolling along…
Rolling along…
[GROUP III]
So you'll sit in the sun
You'll come back with a tan
In a month or two
You’re going to thank us
It’s your time…
[ALL]
What's your choice?
It's called count to ten
It's called burn your bridges, start again
You should burn them every now and then
Or you’ll never grow!
Because now you grow
That’s the killer
So now you grow
[MARY]
You're right, nothing's fair
And it’s all a plot
And tomorrow doesn’t look too hot—
[ALL]
Right, you better look at what you've got:
Over here, hello?
Now you know, now you know, now you know
Over here, hello!
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Right! Right! Right! Right!
Right! Right! Right! Right! Right! Right! Right! Right!
Now you know!