Below, lyrics to the songs performed in the James Taylor at Carnegie Hall concert film.

THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS

(Music and Lyrics: Irving Berlin)

The butcher, the baker, the grocer, the clerk
Are secretly unhappy men because
The butcher, the baker, the grocer, the clerk
Get paid for what they do but no applause.
They’d gladly bid their dreary jobs goodbye
For anything theatrical and why?

There’s no business like show business like no business I know
Everything about it is appealing, everything that traffic will allow
Nowhere could you get that happy feeling when you are stealing that extra bow

There’s no people like show people, they smile when they are low
Even with a turkey that you know will fold, you may be stranded out in the cold
Still you wouldn’t trade it for a sack of gold, let’s go on with the show

The costumes, the scenery, the makeup, the props
The audience that lifts you when you’re down
The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops
The sheriff who escorts you out of town
The opening when your heart beats like a drum
The closing when the customers won’t come

There’s no business like show business and I tell you it’s so
Traveling through the country is so thrilling, standing out in front on opening nights
Smiling as you watch the theater filling, and there’s your billing out there in lights

There’s no people like show people, they smile when they are low
Yesterday they told you you would not go far, that night you open and there you are.
Next day on your dressing room they’ve hung a star, let’s go on with the show!

THE FROZEN MAN

(Music and Lyrics: James Taylor)

Last thing I remember is the freezing cold
Water reaching up just to swallow me whole
Ice in the rigging and howling wind
Shock to my body as we tumbled in
Then my brothers and the others are lost at sea
I alone am returned to tell thee
Hidden in ice for a century
To walk the world again
Lord have mercy on the frozen man

Next words that were spoken to me
Nurse asked me what my name might be
She was all in white at the foot of my bed
I said angel of mercy I’m alive or am I dead
My name is William James McPhee
I was born in 1843
Raised in Liverpool by the sea
But that ain’t who I am
Lord have mercy on the frozen man

It took a lot of money to start my heart
To peg my leg and to buy my eye
The newspapers call me the state of the art
And the children, when they see me, cry
I thought it would be nice just to visit my grave
See what kind of tombstone I might have
I saw my wife and my daughter and it seemed so strange
Both of them dead and gone from extreme old age
See here, when I die make sure I’m gone
Don’t leave ’em nothing to work on
You can raise your arm, you can wiggle your hand
And you can wave goodbye to the frozen man

I know what it means to freeze to death
To lose a little life with every breath
To say goodbye to life on earth
To come around again
Lord have mercy on the frozen man
Lord have mercy on the frozen man

FOGGY MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN

(Music: Earl Scruggs)
Instrumental

WESTERN PLAINS (When I Was A Cowboy)

(Music and Lyrics: Huddie Ledbetter (“Lead Belly”))

When I was a cowboy, out on the western plains
When I was a cowboy, out on the western plains
I made a half a million, pullin’ on the bridle reins
Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah
Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah

Oh, the hardest battle, was it ever on the western plains
Oh, the hardest battle, was ever on the western plains
When me and a bunch of cowboys, run into Jesse James

Come a cow ki-yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah
Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah

When me and a bunch of cowboys, run into Jesse James
When me and a bunch of cowboys, run into Jesse James
The bullets was a-fallin’, just like a shower rain

Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah
Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah

De house catch de fire, and they ain’t no water ’round
If yo’ house catch de fire, and they ain’t no water ’round
Throw yo’ jelly roll out de window, let de doggone shack burn down

Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah
Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah

Come all you rounders, don’t you wanna go?
Come all you cowboys, don’t you wanna go?
In the footsteps of The Lone Ranger, on a range of Buffalo

Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah
Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah

When I was a cowboy, out on the western plains
When I was a cowboy, out on the western plains
I made a half a million, pullin’ on the bridle reins

Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah
Come a cow ki—yicky, Come a cow ki-yicky-yicky-yeah

SWEET BABY JAMES

(Music and Lyrics: James Taylor)

There is a young cowboy, lives on the range
His horse and his cattle they’re his only companions
He works in the saddle and he sleeps in the canyons
Just waiting for summer, his pastures to change

And as the moon rises he sits by his fire
Thinking about women and glasses of beer
Closing his eyes as the doggies retire
He sings out a song which is soft but it’s clear
As if maybe someone could hear. He sings …

Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rock-a-bye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won’t you let me go down in my dreams
And rock-a-bye sweet baby James

Now the first of December was covered with snow
And so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston
Lord, the Berkshires seemed dream-like on account of that frosting
With ten miles behind me and ten thousand more to go

There’s a song that they sing when they take to the highway
A song that they sing when they take to the sea
A song that they sing of their home in the sky
Maybe you can believe it if it helps you to sleep
But singing works just fine for me. So …

Goodnight you moonlight ladies
Rock-a-bye sweet baby James
Deep greens and blues are the colors I choose
Won’t you let me go down in my dreams
And rock-a-bye sweet baby James

MY TRAVELING STAR

(Music and Lyrics: James Taylor)

Watch my back and light my way (my traveling star, my traveling star).
Watch over all of those born St. Christopher’s Day (old road dog, young runaway).
They hunger for home but they cannot stay.
They wait by the door, they stand and they stare.
They’re already out of there, they’re already out of there.

My daddy used to ride the rails (so they say, so they say).
Soft as smoke and as tough as nails (Boxcar Jones, old walking man).
Coming back home was like going to jail.
The sheets and the blankets and babies and all.
No, he never did come back home, never that I recall.

Never mind the wind, never mind the rain,
never mind the road leading home again.
Never asking why, never knowing when,
every now and then, there he goes again.

She had a cat and a dog named Blue (my traveling star, my traveling star).
A big old stove and a fireplace, too (old road dog, young runaway).
She told me loved me like it was true.
I knew I should stay, I knew I would go.
Run, run, run away. Run, run, run away, boy.

Run before the wind, run before the rain,
Over yonder hill, just around the bend.
Never knowing why, never knowing when,
Every now and then, there you go again.

Tie me up and hold me down (oh, my traveling star).
Bury my feet down in the ground (oh, old road dog).
Claim my name from the lost and found,
and let me believe this is where I belong.
Shame on me for sure, for one more highway song.
My traveling star, my traveling star…

DON’T EXPLAIN

(Music and Lyrics: Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog Jr.)

Hush now, don’t explain
Just say you’ll remain
I’m glad your back, don’t explain

Quiet, don’t explain
What is there to gain
Skip that lipstick
Don’t explain

You know that I love you
And what endures
All my thoughts of you
For I’m so completely yours

Cry to hear folks chatter
And I know you cheat
Right or wrong, don’t matter
When you’re with me, sweet

Hush now, don’t explain
You’re my joy and pain
My life’s yours love
Don’t explain

KEVIN POLLAK as “Lenny Bruce at Carnegie Hall” (1961)

PIRATE JENNY

(Music and Lyrics: Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht)

You people can watch while I’m scrubbing these floors
And I’m scrubbing these floors while you’re gawking
Maybe once you tip me and it makes you feel swell
In this crummy southern town
In this crummy old hotel
But you’ll never guess to who you’re talking
No,You couldn’t ever guess to who you’re talking

Then one night there’s a scream in the night
And you wonder: ‘Who could that have been ?’
And you see me kind of grinning while I’m scrubbing
And you say ‘What she got to grin?’
I’ll tell ya:

There’s a ship
The black freighter
With a skull on it’s mast-head
Will be coming in

You gentlemen can say: ‘Hey gal, finish them floors
Get Upstairs. What’s wrong with you? Earn your keep here’
You toss me your tips and look to the ships
But I’m counting your heads as I’m making the beds
’cause there’s nobody gonna sleep here tonight
Nobody’s gonna sleep here.
Nobody
Nobody.

Then one night there’s a scream in the night
And you say: ‘Who’s that kicking up a row?’
And you see me kinda staring out the window
And you say: ‘What she got to stare at now ?’
I’ll tell ya:

There’s a ship
The black freighter
Turns around in the harbour
Shooting guns from her bow

Well you gentlemen can wipe those smiles off your face
’cause every building in town is a flat one
This whole frigging place will be down to the ground
Only this cheap hotel standing up, safe and sound
And you yell: ‘Why do they spare that one?
Yes, that’s what you say,
‘Why the hell do they spare that one ?’

All the night through through the noise and to do
And you wonder: ‘Who is that person that lives up there ?’
And you see me stepping out in the morning
Looking nice with a ribbon in my hair

And a ship
The black freighter
Runs a flag up it’s mast-head
And a cheer rings the air.

By noon-time the dock is a swarming with men
Coming out from the ghostly freighter
They’re moving in the shadows where no-one can see
And they’re chaining up people
And delivering ’em to me
Asking me: ‘Kill them now or later?’
Asking me: ‘Kill them now or later?’

Noon by the clock and so still at the dock
You can hear a fog horn miles away
And in that quiet of death I’ll say:
‘Right now !’
‘Right now !’
And they pile up the bodies
And I’ll say: ‘That’ll learn you.
That’ll learn you.’

And the ship
The black freighter
Disappears out to sea
And on it is me !

NASHVILLE NIGHTINGALE

(Music and Lyrics: George Gershwin and Irving Caesar)

There’s a sweet singing lady down in Tennessee
I mean Nashville, Tennessee.
Everyone down in Dixie loves her harmony;
I mean craves her harmony.
All the dark town preachers and the Bible teachers
Say they’re losing all their trade
‘Cause the good church people all desert the steeple
When she starts to serenade.
Oh, you won’t find a body what is feeling blue
Down in Nashville, Tennessee
‘Cause when they get that way,
They run to her and say
Nashville Nightingale,
Sing a little tune for me
Croon for me
Nashville Nightingale,
Gimme some of this:
Voh doh dee oh dee oh, voh doh dee oh dee oh.
Nashville Nightingale,
Up and down the scale for me,
Wail for me;
Nightingale, don’t fail;
Fill my heart with bliss.
When you sing, voh dee oh doh dee oh voh doh dee oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, baby how you thrill me!
Voh dee oh doh dee oh voh doh dee oh,
Dark town tetrazini how you kill me!
Neath the Swannee moon,
Sing a little tune for me,
Croon for me.
Voh dee oh dee oh, the Nashville Nightingale!
Voh dee oh dee oh, the Nashville Nightingale!

HERE’S TO LIFE

(Music and Lyrics: Artie Butler and Phyllis Molinary)

No complaints and no regrets
I still believe in chasing dreams and placing bets
But I have learned that all you give is all you get
So you give it all you’ve got

I had my share, I drank my fill
And even though I’m satisfied, I’m hungry still
To see what’s down another road, beyond a hill
And do it all again

So here’s to life
And every joy it brings
Here’s to life
To dreamers and their dreams

Funny how the time just flies
How love can go from warm hellos to sad goodbyes
And leave you with the memories you’ve memorized
To keep your winters warm

But there’s no yes in yesterday
And who knows what tomorrow brings, or takes away
As long as I’m still in the game, I want to play
For laughs, for life, for love

So here’s to life
And every joy it brings
Here’s to life
To dreamers and their dreams

May all your storms be weathered
And all that’s good get better

Here’s to life
Here’s to love
And here’s to you

May all your storms be weathered
And all that’s good get better

Here’s to life
Here’s to love
And here’s to you

NOT WHILE I’M AROUND

(Music and Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim)

BARBARA
Nothing’s gonna harm you, not while I’m around.

JAMES
Nothing’s gonna harm you, no sir, not while I’m around.

BOTH
Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays,

BARBARA
I’ll send ’em howling,
I don’t care, I got ways.

JAMES
No one’s gonna hurt you,
No one’s gonna dare.

BARBARA
Others can desert you,
Not to worry, whistle, I’ll be there.

BOTH
Demons’ll charm you with a smile, for a while,
But in time…
Nothing can harm you
Not while I’m around…

JAMES
Not to worry, not to worry
I may not be smart, but I’m not dumb.
I can do it. Put me to it. Show me somethin – I can overcome.
Not to worry, chum.

BARBARA
Being close and being clever
Ain’t like being true
I don’t need to,
I won’t ever hide a thing from you,
Like some…

BARBARA (cont’d)
No one’s gonna hurt you,

JAMES
No one’s gonna hurt you,

BARBARA
No one’s gonna dare.

JAMES
No one’s gonna dare.

BARBARA
Others can desert you,

BOTH
Not to worry,

BARBARA
Whistle, I’ll be there.

JAMES
Whistle, I’ll be there.

BOTH
Demons’ll charm you with a smile, for a while,
But in time…
Nothing can harm you
Not while I’m around.

CAROLINA IN MY MIND

(Music and Lyrics: James Taylor)

In my mind I’m gone to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine
Can’t you just feel the moonshine
Ain’t it like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Oh, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind

Karin she’s a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shine
Watch her watch the morning come
A silver tear appearing now
Well, I’m cryin’ ain’t I
I’m gone to Carolina in my mind

Ain’t no doubt in no one’s mind
That love’s the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
Hey, baby, the sky’s on fire
I’m dyin’ ain’t I
Ain’t I gone to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I’m gone to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine
Can’t you just feel the moonshine
Ain’t it like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Till I’m gone to Carolina in my mind

Dark and silent late last night
Think I might have heard the highway calling
Geese in flight and dogs that bite
And signs that might be omens
Say I’m goin’, I’m goin’
Gone to Carolina in my mind

It’s with a holy host of others
Standing round me
Still I’m on the dark side of the moon
And it looks like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I’m gone to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I’m long gone to Carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine
I said can’t you just feel the moonshine
Ain’t it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Oh, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind

Oh, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind
So I’m already gone
I’m gone
Say nice things about me
I’m gone
You’ll have to carry on without me
I’m gone
Oh, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind
I’m gone
Yes, I’m gone to Carolina in my mind

JUBILATION DAY

(Music and Lyrics: Steve Martin)

I’m walking away
Like Dear Abby told me
I’m walking away
My shrink gave his okay
I’m walking away
The self-help book emplored me
I’m walking away
Jubilation Day

I’m walking away
My best friends all had warned me
I’m walking away.
Even your Mom said you were nuts
In my dreams
You wear a red cape and a pitchfork
I’m walking away
Jubilation day

I’m walking away
Let me get my things
I’m walking away
Where’d you hide my banjo strings?
I’m walking away
I’ll be over you by lunchtime
I’m walking away
Jubilation Day

I’m walking away
Let’s always remember the good times
I’m walking away
Like when you were out of town
I’m walking away
But the sex was great
I’m walking away
At least that’s what my best friend’s brother said
I’m walking away
You know you’re right, we should always stay in touch
I’m walking away.
This is your new email address right?
Cheating-physcho-dish-throwing-ho-dot-nut… Bye…

PENNY LANE

(Music and Lyrics: John Lennon and Paul McCartney)

In Penny Lane there is a barber showing photographs
Of every head he’s had the pleasure to know
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say hello

On the corner is a banker with a motorcar
The little children laugh at him behind his back
And the banker never wears a mac in the pouring rain
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
Wet beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit and meanwhile back in

Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass
And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen
He likes to keep his fire engine clean
It’s a clean machine

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
A four of fish and finger pies
In summer meanwhile back

Behind the shelter in the middle of a roundabout
A pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray
And though she feels as if she’s in a play
She is anyway

Penny Lane, the barber shaves another customer
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
And the fireman rushes in from the pouring rain
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit and meanwhile back

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
Penny Lane

HOW SWEET IT IS

(Music and Lyrics: Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Edward Holland Jr.)

BANJO INTRODUCTION (Steve Martin)

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

I needed the shelter of someone’s arms and there you were
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs and there you were
With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotion
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

I close my eyes at night
Wondering where would I be without you in my life
Everything I did was just a bore
Everywhere I went it seems I’d been there before
But you brighten up for me all of my days
With a love so sweet in so many ways
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

(BREAK)

You were better for me than I was for myself
For me, there’s you and there ain’t nobody else
I want to stop and thank you baby
I just want to stop and thank you baby

How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you

SHOWER THE PEOPLE

(Music and Lyrics: James Taylor)

You can play the game and you can act out the part
Though you know it wasn’t written for you
But tell me, how can you stand there with your broken heart
Ashamed of playing the fool
One thing can lead to another; it doesn’t take any sacrifice
Oh, father and mother, sister and brother
if it feels nice, don’t think twice

Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna work out fine if you only will(do as i say, yeah)
Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Things are gonna be much better if you only will

You can run but you cannot hide
This is widely known
And what you plan to do with your foolish pride
When you’re all by yourself alone
Once you tell somebody the way that you feel
You can feel it beginning to ease
I think it’s true what they say about the squeaky wheel
Always getting the grease.

Better to shower the people you love with love
(Yes and) show them the way that you feel
(I know) Things are gonna be just fine if you only will
(what I’d like to do to you)
Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way you feel
Things are gonna be much better if you only will

(BREAK)

Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel
Shower the people you love with love
Show them the way that you feel

They say in every life
They say the rain must fall
Just like the pouring rain
Make it rain
Make it rain
Love, love, love is sunshine oh
Oh yes, Make it rain
Love, love, love is sunshine yeah
Oh, right, Everybody, everybody, everybody, everybody

YOU CAN CLOSE YOUR EYES

(Music and Lyrics: James Taylor)

Well the sun is surely sinking down,
But the moon is slowly rising.
So this old world must still be spinning around,
And I still love you.

So close your eyes;
You can close your eyes, it’s all right.
I don’t know no love songs,
And I can’t sing the blues any more.
But I can sing this song,
And you can sing this song
When I’m gone.

It won’t be long before another day.
We’re gonna have a good time.
And no one’s gonna take that time away.
You can stay as long as you like.

Only close your eyes;
You can close your eyes, it’s all right.
I don’t know no love songs,
And I can’t sing the blues any more.
But I can sing this song,
Yes and you can sing this song
When I’m gone.

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW

(Music and Lyrics: Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg)

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can’t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can’t I