I reached the age of forty somewhat sooner than expected
Living at a fairly hectic pace
When I count the years that I have happily collected
The future shows its apprehensive face
(But now, Francis, what the hell do you do now, Francis?)
Quite a different song must be sung
When the singer is no longer young
Before the music ends, before it fades away
There are several very necessary things I must do
Friends I must see again, certain places
Where I must be again
Before the music ends
I must go to Hoboken one more time

I wanna run down that street where that thin Italian kid ran
Then slow down at the school
Where those nice old ladies tried to teach me
Unaware that I knew much more than they did
And stop at the poolroom for a beer
And sadly say to myself, I don't know anybody here
(Francis, don't go home again.)
One thing I'd like to do
Before the music ends
Is to thank some wonderful life-long friends
I've never met but have known so well
From one Frank to another, thank you for your dream
Your dream is now my own
And thank you Ludwig Van
For the flights of fancy you sent me on
Thank Mrs. Verdi, for Joe and a special thanks to Giacomo

All of you took turns in delivering sunrise a little sooner to my window

Before the music ends, with company by Dino and Sarge
I'd like to make one more charge at Vegas
You won't find me at that idiot wheel that spins, and spins and spins
I won't play the slot machine
The management always wins
Not for me the game where the Jack is called Black:
Hand me them dice and stand back!
(Put five hundred on the line
And a hundred on the come
If Sinatra makes his Nine, blow the trumpets, beat the drum!)
You won't hear me talk about baby‘s new shoes, baby's got 57 pairs...
All I ask is a Nine, just a plain and simple Nine
(just a little five and four, just a little six and three
Nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine)
Nine!!! [dice rolls]

[cello solo]
In years to come, I may forget if I lost or if I won
But I'll always remember how much fun it was
(just a little five and four, just a little six and three)

And when the music ends
I'd like it to end this way
I'll ask Chester to write me one more song
I'll get Lefty to make me one more chart
And I'll make one more record with the best musicians in the world

And when that cat with the scythe
Comes tugging at my sleeve
I'll be singing as I leave
(Sinatra, Sinatra, Sinatra)