[ENSEMBLE]
Here he comes
Mister Whiz!
Sound the drums
Here he is!

Raconteur
Bon vivant—
Tell us, sir
What we want
To know:
The modus operandi
A dandy
Should use
When he is feeling low

[BEN]
When the winds are blowing—

[ENSEMBLE]
Yes?

[BEN]
That's the time to smile

[ENSEMBLE]
Oh?
[BEN]
Learn how to laugh
Learn how to love
Learn how to live
That's my style

When the rent is owing—

[ENSEMBLE]
Yes?

[BEN]
What's the use of tears?

[ENSEMBLE]
Oh?

[BEN]
I'd rather laugh
I'd rather love
I'd rather live
In arrеars

Some fellows sweat
To gеt
To be millionaires
Some have a sport
They're devotees of
Some like to be the champs
At saving postage stamps
Me, I like to laugh
Me, I like to live
Me, I like to love!
Some like to sink
And think
In their easy chairs
Of all the things
They've risen above
Some like to be profound
By reading Post and Pound
Me, I like to laugh
Me, I like to live
Me, I like to love!

Success is swell and success is sweet
But every height has a drop
The less achievement, the less defeat
What's the point of shovin'
Your way to the top?
Live 'n' laugh 'n' love 'n'
You're never a flop

So when the walls are crumbling—

[ENSEMBLE]
Yes?

[BEN]
Don't give up the ship
[ENSEMBLE]
No

[BEN]
Learn how to laugh
Learn how to love
Learn how to live
That's my tip!

When I hear the rumbling—

[ENSEMBLE]
Yes?

[BEN]
Do I lose my grip?

[ENSEMBLE]
No!

[BEN]
I have to laugh
I have to love
I have to live
That's my trip!

[ENSEMBLE]
When the winds are blowing
That's the time to smile
When the rent is owing
Never lose your smile

[BEN]
Some get a boot
From shoot-
Ing off cablegrams
Or buzzing bells
To summon the staff
Some climbers get their kicks
From social politics
Me, I like to live
Me, I like to love
M—

Some break their asses
Passing bar exams
Lay out their lives
Like lines on a graph...
One day they're diplomats—
Well, bully and congrats!
Me, I like to live
Me, I like to love
Me, I like—
Me...
Love...
Me...
I don't love me!

(spoken)
I don't need her. I don't need anybody. Not anymore. It's too late for me. 

[ENSEMBLE]
Success is swell and success is sweet
But every height has a drop

[BEN, spoken]
She claims she loves me, but it's the money she loves. Money to buy, that's what she wants. 

[ENSEMBLE]
The less achievement, the less defeat

[BEN, spoken]
She doesn't want me. How could she? She'll never take me back. 

[ENSEMBLE]
What's the point of shovin'
Your way to the top?

[BEN, spoken]
Why should she?

[ENSEMBLE]
Live 'n' laugh 'n' love 'n'
You're never a flop

[BEN, spoken]
What the hell have I done? Phyllis!

[ENSEMBLE, spoken]
Now if you see Lucy "X"
Youthful, truthful Lucy "X"
Let her know she's better than she suspects
Now if you see Jessie "Y"
Faded, jaded Jessie "Y"
Tell her that she's sweller than apple pie
Juicy Lucy