Original Broadway Cast of Merrily We Roll Along
Now You Know
[JOE]
So we'll do a new show
So you'll meet a new dame
So you'll take some time for personal pleasure

[CHARLEY]
There gotta be endings
Or there wouldn't be beginnings—
Right?

[LES]
You got talent to blow
And you're making a name
And that song you wrote's a national treasure

[TED & JEROME]
You're looking at losses
When you should be counting winnings

[JOE, LES, CHARLEY & TED]
Right!

[CHARLEY]
Best thing that ever could have happened—

[FRANK, spoken]
Right. 
[ALEX]
So you'll get a new flat
And you'll have a few flings
Start a whole new life and learn to adore it

[KATE]
If you want to have weddings
Then you gotta have divorces—
No?

[TERRY]
Though it's sad and all that
You get over these things
And you come out somehow better for it

[JEROME]
Just because you change horses
Doesn't mean you're changing courses

[MARY]
Right!

[JEROME]
Best thing that ever could have happened—
I say best thing that ever could have happened—
[TERRY]
Best thing that ever could have happened—

[ALEX]
One more thing not to think about—

[TED]
It was all getting much too complicated—

[FRANK, spoken]
Right!

[MARY]
All right, now you know
Life is crummy
Well, now you know

Okay, big surprise
People love you and tell you lies
Bricks can fall out of clear blue skies
Put your dimple down
Now you know

Okay, there you go—
Learn to live with 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
Yes sir, quite a blow
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

You're right, nothing's fair
And it's all a plot
And tomorrow doesn't look so hot—
Right, you better look at what you've got
Over here, hello?
Okay, now you know
Right?

[TERRY]
It's a month at the most—

[LES]
Sure, you'll spin a few wheels—

[ALEX]
But you don't look back—

[KATE]
Just leave all the pieces

[GROUP I]
When you haven't got one choice
Might as well enjoy the other

[GROUP II]
Right!

[TERRY]
You'll come out to the coast—

[JEROME]
We can set a few deals
And I'm talking strictly major releases

[GROUP II]
An exit from one place
Is an entrance to another

[GROUP I]
Right!

[CHARLEY]
Best thing that ever could have—

[MARY]
I mean, socks have holes
I mean, roads have bumps
They make meatheads champs and nice guys chumps

[CHARLEY]
—Happened!

[MARY]
I mean, even Cream of Wheat has lumps!

[COMPANY]
Best thing that ever could have happened—
It was all getting much too complicated anyhow–
Best thing that ever could have happened!

[FRANK]
Right, we'll do a new show—!
No, we'll do a whole batch!
When it's over with, I'll cut the connection—
You gotta have endings
Or there wouldn't be beginnings!

[COMPANY]
Right!

[CHARLEY]
When you're flattened this low
And you're starting from scratch
You can only go in one direction!

[MARY & CHARLEY]
'Cause the side's retired
But there still are lots of innings
Right?

[GROUP I]
Best thing that ever could have happened—
Best thing that ever could have happened—
I say, best thing that ever could have happened—!
I say, best thing that ever could have happened—!
It's your time
Your time

[GROUP II]
Yesterday is done
See the pretty countryside
Soon enough you're merrily, merrily
Rolling along
Rolling along

[GROUP III]
You're beginning again, got another clean slate
Got a whole new life, you'll learn to adore it
It's your time
It's your time

[COMPANY]
What's your choice?
Count to ten
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

[MARY]
You're right, nothing's fair
And it's all a plot
And tomorrow doesn't look so hot—

[COMPANY]
Right, you better look at what you've got!
Over here, hello?
Over here, hello?

[MARY, CHARLEY & JOE]
Over here, hello?

[COMPANY]
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Now you know! Right!
Right! Right! Right! Right!
Right! Right! Right! Right!
Now you know!