Stephen Sondheim
Merrily We Roll Along
[COMPANY, variously]
Yesterday is done
See the pretty countryside
Merrily we roll along, roll along
Bursting with dreams

Traveling’s the fun
Flashing by the countryside
Everybody merrily, merrily
Catching at dreams
Rolling along…
Rolling along…
Rolling along…

[GROUP I]
Dreams don’t die
So keep an eye on your dream—

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

[GROUP I]
Time goes by
And hopes go dry
But you still can try
For your dream
[GROUP I]
Tend your dream…

[GROUP II]
How does it happen?

[GROUP I]
Dreams take time…

[GROUP II]
Once it was all so clear

[GROUP I]
Time goes by…

[GROUP II]
How can you get so far
Off the track?
Why don't you turn around
And go back?

[GROUP I]
Bend your dream…

[GROUP II]
How does it happen?
Where is the moment?
[GROUP I]
With the road…

[GROUP II]
How can you miss it?
Isn't it clear?
How can you let it slip out of gear?

[ALL]
How did you ever get there from here?

[GROUP I]
You roll

[GROUP II]
How does it happen?

[GROUP III]
How does it happen?

[GROUP I]
You just roll

[GROUP II]
Once it was all so clear
[GROUP III]
Isn’t it always clear?

[GROUP I]
Everybody roll

[GROUP II]
How does it start to go?

[GROUP II, III]
Does it slip away slow

[ALL]
So you never even notice it’s happening?

[CHARLEY]
How did you get to be here?

[ALL (EXCEPT CHARLEY)]
What was the moment?

[MARY]
How did you get to be here?

[MARY & CHARLEY]
Pick yourself a road
Get to know the countryside
Soon enough you’re merrily

[ALL]
Merrily
Practicing dreams

Dreams that will explode
Waking up the countryside
Making you feel merrily merrily
What can go wrong
Rolling along?

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 II]
One trip
All you get is
One quick ride
Look around a bit
One quick ride
Through the countryside
Stay on track
Never look back

[GROUP I]
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
Some roads you really fly

[ALL]
Never look back
Never look back
Never look back!
Never look back!
Never look—

How did you get to be here?
What was the moment?
How did you get to be here?

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—