Lyrics for Carryin' The Banner

Newsies: Don't forget to practice your song! Here's the link if you want to sing along to the clip from the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBgzLkauIrs. Below are the lyrics. I may or may not have included a verse we're not doing, so don't get nervous if there's something you've never heard. Thanks, guys!

RACETRACK:
That's my cigar!

SNIPESHOOTER:
You'll steal anudder!

KID BLINK:
Hey bummers, we got work tah do!

RACETRACK:
Since when did you become me mudder?

CRUTCHY:
Aww, stop your bawling!

NEWSIES:
Hey, who asked you?

MUSH: So, how'd you sleep Jack?

JACK: On me back Mush.

MUSH: Ha ha. Hear that fellas? Hear what Jack said?
I asked Jack how he slept and he said 'On me back Mush'

CRUTCHY: Jack, when I walk, does it look like I'm faking it?

JACK: No. Who says you're faking it?

CRUTCHY: I dunno. It's just there's so many fake crips on the street today, a real crip ain't got a chance. I gotta find me a new selling spot where they ain't used to seeing me.

MUSH:
Try Bottle Alley or the harbour

RACETRACK:
Try Central Park, it's guaranteed

JACK:
Try any baker, bum, or barber

SKITTERY:
They almost all knows how to read

KID BLINK:
I smell money

CRUTCHY:
You smell foul!

MUSH:
Met this girl last night

CRUTCHY:
Move your elbow!

RACETRACK:
Pass the towel!

SKITTERY:
For a buck I might!

NEWSIES:
Ain't it a fine life
Carrying the banner through it all?
A mighty fine life
Carrying the banner tough and tall
Every morning, we goes where we wishes
We's as free as fishes
Sure beats washin' dishes
What a fine life
Carrying the banner home-free all!

JACK:

It takes a smile as sweet as butter

CRUTCHY:

The kind that ladies can resist

RACETRACK:

It takes an orphan with a stutter

NEWSIES:

Who ain’t afraid to use his fist!

Summer stinks and winter's waiting
Welcome to New York
Boy, ain't nature fascinating
When you'se gotta walk?

Still, it's a fine life
Carrying the banner with me chums
A mighty fine life
Blowing every nickel as it comes

CRUTCHY:
I'm no snoozer

Sitting makes me antsy
I likes living chancy

NEWSIES:
Harlem tah Delancey
What a fine life
Carrying the banner through the slums

NEWSIES:
If I hate the headline, I'll make up the headline
And I'll say anything I hafta
'Cause it's two for a penny, if I take too many
Weasel just makes me eat 'em afta

(Sung in counterpoint)

1. Look! They're putting up the headline
They call that a headline?
I get better stories from the copper on the beat
I was gunna start with twenty but a dozen'll be plenty
Tell me, how'm I gonna make ends meet?

2. What's it say?
That won't pay!
So where's your spot?
Gosh, it's hot!
Will ya tell me how'm I gonna make ends meet?

(End counterpoint)

NEWSIES:
We need a good assassination!
We need an earthquake or a war!

SNIPESHOOTER:
How 'bout a crooked politician?

NEWSIES:
Hey, stupid, that ain't news no more!
Uptown to Grand Central Station
Down to City Hall
We improves our circulation
Walkin' til we fall!

(Sung in counterpoint)

1. (Split in two at first)

It’s a fine life

Carrying the banner through it all

A mighty fine life

Carrying the banner tough and tall
See the headline
Newsies on a mission
Kill the competition
Sell the next edition
What a fine life

Carrying the banner

It’s a fine life

Carrying the banner

It’s a fine life

Carrying the banner

It’s a fine life

Carrying the banner

It’s a fine life

Carrying the banner

It’s a go!

2.Look, they're putting up the headline
They call that a headline
I get better stories from the copper on the beat
I was gunna start with twenty but a dozen'll be plenty
Will ya tell me, how'm I gonna make ends meet?

Hitched it on a trolley,

Meet ya forty fourth and second,

Little Italy’s a secret,

Bleeker’s further than I reckoned,

By the courthouse,

By the stables on the corner someone beckoned

And I go get ‘em cowboy

You got ‘em now, boy!

And I go get ‘em cowboy

You got ‘em now, boy!

Go!