Carrying the Banner

That's my cigar, you'll steal another
Hey bummers, we got work to do
Since when did you become me mother?
Ah, stop your bawling
Hey, who asked you?

Try Bottle Alley or the harbor
Try Central Park, it's guaranteed
Try any banker, bum, or barber
They almost all knows how to read
I smell money, you smell foul
Met this girl last night
Ah, move your elbow, pass the towel
For a buck, I might

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 washing dishes
What a fine life carrying The Banner home free all

It takes a smile as sweet as butter
The kind that ladies can't resist
It takes an orphan with a stutter
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's gotta walk?

Still it's a fine life
Carrying The Banner with your chums (it's a fine life)
A mighty fine life (carrying The Banner with your chums)
Blowing every nickle as it comes (a mighty fine life)
(Blowing every nickle as it comes)
I'm no snoozer
Sitting makes me antsy
I likes living chancy
Harlem to Delancy
What a fine life, carrying The Banner through the slums

Blessed children
Though you wander lost and depraved
Jesus loves you
You shall be saved

Patrick (just give me half a cup)
Darling (something to wake me up)
Since you left me (I gotta find an angle)
I am undone (I gotta sell more papes)
Mother (papers is all I got) (wish I could catch a breeze)
Loves you (sure hope the headlines hot) (all I can catch is fleas)
God save my son! (God help me if it's not) (somebody help me, please)
If I hate the headline, I'll make up a headline

And I'll say anything I have to
'Cause it's two for a penny
If I take to many, Weasel just makes me eat 'em after
Look they putting up a headline
What's it say? (You call that a headline?)
That won't pay! (I get better stories)
So where's your spot? (From the copper on the beat)
God, it's hot! (I was gonna start with twenty)
Will ya tell me (but a dozen will be plenty)
(Tell me) how'm I gonna make ends meet?

We need a good assassination
We need an earthquake or a war
How 'bout a crooked politician?
Hey stupid, that ain't news no more
Uptown to Grand Central Station
Down to City Hall
We improves our circulation
Walking 'til we fall

Still we'll be out there (look they're putting up the headline, they call that a headline)
Carrying The Banner man to man (the idiot who wrote it must be working for The Sun)
We'll be out there (did you hear about the fire, heard it killed old man Maguire)
Soakin' all the suckers that we can
(Heard the toll was even higher) (why do I miss all the fun?)

See the headline (hitched it on the trolley)
Newsies On A Mission (meet-ch'a forty-fourth and second)
Kill the competition (Little Italy's a secret)
Sell the next edition (Bleecker's further than I reckoned)
While we're out there (by the courthouse, near the stables)
Carrying The Banner is the (on the corner someone beckoned and I-)

It's a fine life (would you look at that headline!)
Carrying the banner through it all!
(You call that a headline?) (I get better stories)
A mighty fine life (from the copper on the beat)
Carrying The Banner tough and tall! (I was gonna start with 20)
See the headline (now a dozen will be plenty)

Newsies on a Mission (would ya tell me how'm I ever gonna make ends meet?)
Kill the competition (hitched it on a trolley, meet-ch'a forty-fourth and second)
Sell the next edition (Little Italy's a secret, Bleecker's further than I reckoned)
What a fine life (by the courthouse, near the stables)
Carrying The Banner! (On the corner, someone beckoned)

It's a fine life (go get 'em, cowboy)
Carrying The Banner
It's a fine life (you got 'em, cowboy)
Carrying The Banner
It's a fine life (go get 'em, cowboy)
Carrying The Banner
It's a fine life (you got 'em, cowboy)
Carrying The Banner
It's a go!