Everyone Who Matters

Good evening, sir! Oh, lovely coat Your ticket’s number nine The music’s pretty, look at the lights The silver, glass & gold The ladies smell of violets Their shoulders never cold You should see my basement flat The pipes complain all night So I don’t mind the cloakroom It’s warm in here & bright I only take the coats I keep the numbers straight The clever people run the world I mind the little gate They’re beautifully spoken They always seem to know I only take the coats And hang them in a row One gentleman said “perfectly legal” Another said “classified” Someone whispered “casualties” Then everybody laughed inside I’m sure it’s very complicated These things important people know Oh, madam, what a lovely fur Your ticket — there you go There were sirens in the street tonight But no one here seemed scared A Minister said everything’s fine Such beautiful hair I only take the coats I wouldn’t know what’s true Everyone says something different I suppose the experts do They wouldn’t put them in charge If they didn’t know the ropes Would they? Oh what lovely perfume! That lady was in my magazine A Paris fashion show And him — I’ve seen him on television I’m sure I know his face They’re always somewhere important With people one should know Oh sir, of course I know you I’ve seen you on TV! I only take the coats… The taxis glitter down the street The music spills like rain Silk dresses shimmer past the door In silver, gold, and flame Someday I’ll have a place onstage Beneath the footlights’ glow I’ll dance until the curtains rise And sing until they call No more watching from the wings No more waiting in the hall Oh, isn’t show life divine? With every heart alive The music, lights, and roaring crowd Make every dream arrive!