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At the Ballet Lyrics by Barbra Streisand

Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway (Deluxe)

2016

[Daisy Ridley / Bebe]
I really need this job
[Barbra Streisand / Sheila]
Not more than I do. Believe me. Hi, I'm Shelia. What's your name?
[Bebe]
Bebe. And this is Maggie
[Sheila]
Hi, Maggie
[Anne Hathaway / Maggie]
Hi
[Sheila]
Hi
[Maggie]
Gosh, there's a lot of people here
[Sheila]
Yeah, it's a cattle call
[Bebe]
But you'll get the job for sure, Maggie. You're so pretty
[Maggie]
Haha! Oh believe me looks are overrated. Just a different set of problems
[Auditioner]
Okay ladies. Line up. We'll start with you. You. Number 24
[Sheila]
My name is Sheila. What do you wanna know?
[Auditioner]
Why don't you tell me why you're in this business?
[Sheila]
I wanted to be a ballet dancer. What else? The light, by the way, is a very funny color. Do you have anything softer?
[Auditioner]
Don't--don't worry about the lights
[Sheila]
It's very harsh
[Auditioner]
So tell me, do you always come on like this?
[Sheila]
No. Sometimes I'm aggressive
[Bebe and Maggie laugh]
[Auditioner]
Just--just bring it down
[Sheila]
Bring what down?
[Auditioner]
Your attitude, miss
[Sheila]
It's Sheila
[Auditioner]
Okay, Sheila. Why don't you tell me about your parents
[Sheila]
My parents?
[Auditioner]
Yeah
[Sheila]
Well, my mother was a ballerina until my father made her quit
[Auditioner]
Really?
[Sheila]
Really
[Auditioner]
Tell me more
[Sheila]
Tell you more?
[Sheila]
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 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
Come to think of it
But
Everything was beautiful at the ballet
Graceful men lift lovely girls in white
Yes
Everything was beautiful at ballet
Hey!
I was happy at the ballet
That's when I started class
[Together]
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
To the voice like a metronome
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
[Sheila]
It wasn't paradise
[Bebe]
It wasn't paradise
[Maggie]
It wasn't paradise
[Together]
But it was home
[Auditioner]
Okay Number Eighteen
[Bebe]
I'm Bebe, sir
[Auditioner]
And what's your story?
[Bebe]
I don't know what you mean
[Auditioner]
Okay. On the subject of mothers what about yours?
[Bebe]
My mother?
[Auditioner]
Yes, yours
[Bebe]
She lied to me
[Auditioner]
She lied to you?
[Bebe]
Mother always said I'd be very attractive
When I grew up, when I grew up
"Diff'rent," 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
"Diff'rent" is nice, but it sure isn't pretty
"Pretty" is what it's about
I never met anyone who was "diff'rent"
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
[Together]
That everyone is beautiful at the ballet
Every prince has got to have his swan
[Sheila]
Yes
[Together]
Everyone is beautiful at the ballet
Hey!
[Pheobe]
I was pretty
At the ballet
[Together]
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
To the voice like a metronome
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
[Bebe]
It wasn't paradise
[Sheila]
It wasn't paradise
[Maggie]
It wasn't paradise
[Together]
But it was home
[Auditioner]
Alright, Number Six
[Maggie]
Number Six that's me, Maggie. Can I tell you about my parents?
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
But I guess it's not."
Anyway, I did have a fantastic fantasy life
I used to dance around the living room with my arms 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."
But it was clear
When he proposed
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
("Do-do-doo's")
[Maggie]
It was an Indian chief and he'd say
"Maggie, do you wanna dance?"
And I said, "Daddy, I would love to"
[Sheila]
Everything was beautiful at the ballet
Raise your arms and someone's always there
Everything was beautiful at the ballet
[Bebe]
At the ballet
[Together]
At the ballet!
Yes everything was beautiful at the ballet
Hey!
[Bebe]
I was pretty
[Sheila]
I was happy
[Maggie]
"I would love to."
[Together]
At the ballet
[Sheila]
God, I hope I get this job
[Maggie]
Yeah? Me, too
[Bebe]
What about me?
[Auditioner]
Okay ladies. We will let you know. Next

About “At the Ballet” by Barbra Streisand

Read the complete lyrics to "At the Ballet" by Barbra Streisand from the album "Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway (Deluxe)" in 2016. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop, Broadway, Musicals.

"At the Ballet" is performed by Barbra Streisand. from the album "Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway (Deluxe)" in 2016 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "At the Ballet", explore more songs by Barbra Streisand using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"At the Ballet" is credited to Barbra Streisand. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"At the Ballet" appears on "Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway (Deluxe)" in 2016.

Visit the Barbra Streisand artist page at /artist/barbra-streisand for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.