[FRANK (Older), spoken]
Someday, I guarantee, you'll know practical very well

[A STUDENT, spoken]
Wooow

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
Fate has a way of introducing us to practical, eventually

[A STUDENT, spoken]
Give us a break, Mr Shepard

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
And it's the same with the word compromise

[A STUDENT, spoken]
Compromise? I haven't even started!

[FIRST SOLO]
Yesterday is done

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
Compromise is how you survive

[FRANK (Younger)]
It's how you give up

[FIRST SOLO]
See the pretty countryside

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
Compromise is the bottom line, let me tell you

[SECOND SOLO]
Merrily we roll along, roll along

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
And if you know beforehand

[SECOND SOLO]
Bursting with dreams

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
If you know now, that all you're intending to happen

[THIRD SOLO]
Travelling's the fun

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
Ain't gonna happen the way you think it's gonna happen

[FOURTH SOLO]
Flashing by the countryside

[A STUDENT, spoken]
It will

[A STUDENT, spoken]
C'mon, man!

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
Because life has some ideas about your intentions

[FIFTH SOLO]
Everybody, merrily

[SIXTH SOLO]
Merrily

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
Hey kids

[ALL SIX SOLOS]
Catching at dreams

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
Listen to us "old guys" if you can

[GROUP]
Rolling along

[FRANK (Older), spoken]
I know you don't see it, but some day you're going to be us

[GROUP]
Rolling along

[FRANK (Younger), spoken]
Not if I can help it

[GROUP]
Rolling along [FRANK (Older), spoken]
I understood the facts least of anybody when I was your age. I believe all I dreamed of back then was to compose music
And I did, as you may remember. Well *you* may not, *you* may. Well, you may not either, it's been a while  
[GROUP]
Dreams don't die
But keep an eye on your dream

[GROUP II]
And before you know where you are
There you are

[GROUP]
Time goes by
And hopes go dry
But you still can try
For your dream [FRANK (Older), spoken]
Oh, yeah. Music was going to sustain me, fulfil me, support me



But "real life" came along. I had choices to make  
[GROUP]
How does it happen?

When does it disappear?
How can you get so far off the track?
Why don't you turn around and go back?
How does it happen?
Where is the moment?
How can you miss it? Isn't it clear?
How can you let it slip out of gear?
How did you ever get there from here?  
[SOLO]
Tend your dream

Dreams take time
Time goes by

Bend your dream


With the road [GROUP II ]
You roll

You just roll

Everybody roll [GROUP I]
How does it happen?
How does it happen?
When does it disappear?
Isn't it always clear?
How does it start to go?
How does it slip away slow? [ALL]
So you never even notice
It's happening?

[FRANK (Younger)]
How did you get there from here, Mr. Shepard?

[GUSSIE]
What did you have to go through?

[BETH]
How did you get there from here, Mr. Shepard?

[MEG]
Boy, did they do it to you! [FRANK (Older), spoken]
If you want to hear something amazing, ask anybody here if where they are is where they were headed. I'll bet you most of them won't even remember where they were even headed at your age. If you knew how I've bounced around and been bounced around… [continues speaking, indistinct]  
[MARY]
Pick yourself a road
[MARY and another girl]
Get to know the countryside
[GROUP]
Soon enough
You're merrily
Merrily
Practicing dreams
Dreams that will explode
Waking up the countryside
Making you feel merrily
Merrily
What can go wrong
Rolling along [ALL]
Some roads are soft
And some are bumpy
Some roads you really
Fly
Some rides are rough
And leave you jumpy
Why make it tough
By getting grumpy?
Plenty of roads to try [GROUP I]
One trip

Trip, all you get is
One quick ride
One quick ride
Through the
Countryside [GROUP II]
Some roads are soft
And some are bumpy
Some roads you really
Fly
Some roads are rough
And leave you jumpy
Why make it tough
By getting grumpy?
Plenty of roads to try [GROUP III(?)]




Look around a bit. [GROUP II]
Plenty of roads to try
Some roads you really
Fly. [GROUP I]
Stay on the track
Better look back. [FRANK (Older), spoken]
And I am going to bounce back. Because I know the rules, the rules I'm trying to share with you here today. [ALL]
Better look back
Better look back
Better look back!
Better look back!
Better look [FRANK (Younger)]
How did you get there from here, Mr Shepard?
What did you have to go through?

[ALL]
How did you get there from here, Mr. Shepard?
How did you get to be you?

Bending with the road
Gliding through the countryside
Merrily we roll along
Roll along
Catching at dreams
Dreams that will explode
Waking up the countryside
Everybody merrily
Merrily
Sing 'em your song
Rolling along!
Rolling along!
Rolling along!
Rolling a