At The Ballet Lyrics

At The Ballet

conceived, choreographed and directed by MICHAEL BENNET

book by JAMES KIRKWOOD and NICHOLAS DANTE

music by MARVIN HAMLISCH

lyrics by EDWARD KLEBAN



FOLLOWS " And "



SHEILA (speaks)

Well, let's face it.  May family scene was not good.

(sings)

Daddy always thought that he married beneath him.

That's what he said, that's what he said.

When he proposed he informed my mother

he was probably her very last chance.

And though she was twenty-two,  though she was twenty-two,

though she was twenty-two -

She married him.



Life with my Dad wasn't ever a picnic.

More like a "Come as you are."

When I was five I remember my mother

dug earrings out of the car.

I knew that they weren't hers, but it wasn't

something you'd want to discuss.

He wasn't warm.

Well, not to her.

Well, not to us.



But ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet.

Graceful men lift lovely girls in white.

Yes, ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet.

Hey!

I was happy at the ballet.

(speaks)

That's when I started class 

(sings)

Up a steep and very narrow stairway.



SHEILA, BEBE

To the voice like a metronome.

Up a steep and very narrow stairway.



SHEILA

It wasn't paradise,



BEBE

It wasn't paradise,



SHEILA, BEBE

It wasn't paradise,



SHEILA

But it was home.



BEBE

Mother always said I'd be very attractive

When I grew up, when I grew up.

"Different," she said, "with a special something

and a very, very personal flair."

And though I was eight or nine, though I was eight or nine,

Though I was eight or nine, I hated her.



(Now) "Different" is nice, but it sure isn't pretty.

"Pretty" is what it's about.

I never met anyone who was "different"

Who couldn't figure that out.

So beautiful I'd never live to see.

But it was clear, if not to her,

Well, then to me  that 



BEBE, MAGGIE

Everyone is beautiful at the ballet

Ev'ry prince has got to have his swan.

Yes, ev'ryone is beautiful at the ballet.



MAGGIE

Hey!



BEBE

I was pretty



SHEILA

At the ballet.



MAGGIE, BEBE, SHEILA

Up a steep and very narrow stairway.

To the voice like a metronome.

Up a steep and very narrow stairway.



MAGGIE

It wasn't paradise,



BEBE

It wasn't paradise,



SHEILA

It wasn't paradise,



TRIO

But it was home.



MAGGIE (speaks)

I don't know what they were for or against really.   except each other.  I
mean, I was born to save their marriage.  But when my father came to pick my
mother up at the hospital, he said, "well, I thought this was going to help
out, but I guess it's not."  Anyway, I did have a fantastic fantasy life.  I
used to dance around the living room with my hand up like this.  My fantasy was
that it was an Indian Chief and he'd say to me, "Maggie, do you wanna dance " 
And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to dance."



(Other 2 girls sing "Do, do, do")



BEBE

 But it was clear 



SHEILA

 When he proposed 



MAGGIE

 That I was born to help their marriage and when 



SHEILA

 That's what he said 



BEBE

 That's what she said 



MAGGIE

 I used to dance around the living room 



SHEILA

 He wasn't warm 



BEBE

 Not to her 



MAGGIE

 It was an Indian chief and he'd say: "Maggie, do you wanna dance "

And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to "

Ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet.

Raise your arms and someone's always there.

Yes, ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet,

At the ballet, at the ballet!!!



TRIO

Yes, ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet.



MAGGIE

Hey!



BEBE

I was pretty



SHEILA

I was happy



MAGGIE

I would love to



TRIO

At the ballet