F         Dm     F                   Dm
1. The costumes, the scenery, the make-up, the props,
           F          G                      C
    the audience that lifts you when you're down.
             Bb           Gm        Bb                Gm
    The headaches, the heartaches, the backaches, the flops,
              D         G                  C
    the sheriff who escorts you out of town.
             E          B7                    E
    Ehe opening when your heart beats like a drum,
             C           Am              G
    the closing when the customers don't come. 

                  C             Am             C              Am
    There’s no business like show business like no business I know,
     G                       C          G                            C
    everything about it is appealing, everything that traffic will allow,
     G                                  Am
    nowhere could you have that happy feeling, 
                     D              G
    when you are stealing that extra bow.
                  C            Am            C                  F
    There’s no people like show people, they smile when they are low,
    Dm             G            C          A
    even with a turkey that you know will fold, 
              D       G     C         A
    you may be stranded out in the cold,
    Dm                  G             C          A
    still you wouldn’t change it for a sack of gold, 
           Dm G           C
    let’s go on with the show.

             F         Dm        F          Dm
2. The butcher, the baker, the grocer, the clerk,
       F        C                 G
    are secretly unhappy men because,
           Bb         Gm      Bb             Gm
    the butcher, the baker, the grocer, the clerk,
            D         G                     C
    get paid for what they do, but no applause.
         E            B7                     E
    They’d gladly bid their dreary jobs goodbye 
      C              Am          G
    for anything theatrical and why? 

               C                Am         C                   Am
    There’s no business like show business and you tell me it’s so,
      G                                       C
    traveling through the country is so thrilling, 
       G                                C
    standing out in front on opening nights,
        G                              Am
    smiling as you watch the theater filling, 
      D                         G
    and there’s your billing out there in lights.
                  C            Am            C                   F
    There’s no people like show people, they smile when they are low,
    Dm                 G             C        A
    angels come from everywhere with lots of jack, 
          D           G         C     A
    and when you lose it, there’s no attack,
        Dm               G          C              A
    where could you get money that you don’t give back? 
            Dm G           C
    Let’s go on with the show !

                 C            Am                  C             Am
    There’s no business like show business, like no business I know,
     G                                  C
    you get word before the show has started, 
       G                               C
    that your favorite uncle died at dawn,
     G                               Am
    top of that, your pa and ma have parted, 
        D                           G
    you’re broken-hearted, but you go on.
                  C          Am               C                  F
    There’s no people like show people, they smile when they are low,

      Dm               G                C      A
    yesterday they told you, you would not go far, 
          D            G   C            A
    that night you open, and there you are.
      Dm                       G        C           A
    Next day on your dressing room they’ve hung a star, 
           Dm G            C
    let’s go on with the show !