Lyrics Now You Know - Stephen Sondheim

Now You Know

FRIEND
So you’ve made a mistake
So you’re singing the blues
So you’ll take some time
Go visit some places —
MARY
You’ve got to be somewhere
Where there’s nothing to remind you —
Right?
FRIEND
What you need is a break —
I’ll arrange a nice cruise
You’ll relax a bit and
See some new faces…
CHARLEY AND MARY
You’ve got to do something —
Only never look behind you
FRIENDS
Right?
Best thing that ever could have happened
Right
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 —
The side is retired
So we start another inning —
Right?
On a boat is such fun —
You’ll come back a changed man —
I’ve had lots of guests and
No one’s squawking
CHARLEY AND MARY
Feels like an ending
But it’s really a beginning —
Right?
FRIENDS
Best thing that ever could have happened
I say, best thing that ever could have happened —
Best thing that ever could have happened —
One more thing not to think about…
FRANK
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?
FRIENDS
So you’ll find a new gal —
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?
FRIEND
We’ll go through the canal
Up the coast to LA.
You’ll come see the place
I’m building at Trancas
CHARLEY
You hang around here, pal
And you’re only gonna wallow
Right?
FRIENDS
Right!
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 AND MARY
I mean, after all, you’ve still got us
FRIENDS
Best thing that ever could have happened!
Best thing that ever could have happened!
Best thing that ever could have happened!
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
Right!
ALL
Best thing that ever could have happened…
Best thing that ever could have happened…
I say, best thing that ever could have happened…
It’s your time, your time…
Yesterday is done
See the pretty countryside
Soon enough you’re merrily, merrily
Rolling along…
Rolling along…
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…
It’s your time…
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?
Over here, hello!
Now you know!
Now you know!
Right!
Right!
Right!
Right!
Now you know!