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The Show Biz Lyrics by Jim Corti, Lynnette Perry

Songs from Ragtime: The Musical

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[HARRY HOUDINI]
I'm buried alive
I hang by a thread
And people pay money
To see if I'm dead
Like Mama once said
"That's the showbiz"
[EVELYN NESBIT]
I'm packin' 'em in
From summer to fall
Come May and I'm playin'
A half-empty hall
Well, you said it all
[HARRY HOUDINI & EVELYN NESBIT]
That's the showbiz
[EVELYN NESBIT]
It's sad
[HARRY HOUDINI]
It's strange
[HARRY HOUDINI & EVELYN NESBIT]
Times change and change and change
[HARRY HOUDINI]
And still I'm on top
[EVELYN NESBIT]
I'm third on the bill
[HARRY HOUDINI]
I'm ready to stop
[EVELYN NESBIT]
I'm nervous, I will
[HARRY HOUDINI & EVELYN NESBIT]
And both of us still
In showbiz
[HARRY HOUDINI]
I'm out on a ledge
Wrapped up in a chain
And starting to think
As it's starting to rain
My life is insane
[EVELYN NESBIT]
That's the showbiz
My partner's a dud
My gown doesn't fit
The band is demanding
A grand, or they'll quit
My lawyer does shit
[HARRY HOUDINI]
That's the showbiz
[HARRY HOUDINI & EVELYN NESBIT]
It's sad
It's strange
Times change and change and change
[HARRY HOUDINI]
I'm losing my hair
[EVELYN NESBIT]
I'm losing my voice
[HARRY HOUDINI]
I'm using a chair
[EVELYN NESBIT]
I lost the Rolls Royce
[HARRY HOUDINI & EVELYN NESBIT]
But what other choice
Than showbiz
[HARRY HOUDINI]
I'm only a sham
Well, that's my appeal
The people need sham
'Cause the world is too real
[EVELYN NESBIT]
I know how they feel
I sit and reflect
Up there on my swing
Stenography lessons
Might just be the thing
I wish I could sing
Ah, ah
[HARRY HOUDINI, spoken]
A hundred years from now, the name Houdini will be gone and forgotten. And it wasn't even my real name!
(sung)
And Mama is gone
[EVELYN NESBIT]
My Stanny was shot
[HARRY HOUDINI]
But we carry on
[EVELYN NESBIT]
For like it or not
[HARRY HOUDINI & EVELYN NESBIT]
We're lucky we've got
The showbiz
Where if you are down
[HARRY HOUDINI]
Or dead on your feet
[EVELYN NESBIT]
Or hear from some elderly dear
On the street
That you're obsolete
[HARRY HOUDINI & EVELYN NESBIT]
That's okay
'Cause sad or strange
There's one thing that will never change—
[HARRY HOUDINI]
Like Mama would say
[HARRY HOUDINI & EVELYN NESBIT]
That's the showbiz
The showbiz
The—
[A crowd rushes in, recognizing HOUDINI and ignoring EVELYN.]
[HARRY HOUDINI & EVELYN NESBIT]
—Showbiz
Credits
Jim Corti

Jim Corti

Lynnette Perry

Lynnette Perry

About “The Show Biz” by Jim Corti

Read the complete lyrics to "The Show Biz" by Jim Corti, Lynnette Perry from the album "Songs from Ragtime: The Musical". 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, Musicals.

"The Show Biz" is performed by Jim Corti, Lynnette Perry. from the album "Songs from Ragtime: The Musical" 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 "The Show Biz", explore more songs by Jim Corti, Lynnette Perry 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

"The Show Biz" is credited to Jim Corti, Lynnette Perry. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"The Show Biz" appears on "Songs from Ragtime: The Musical".

Visit the Jim Corti, Lynnette Perry artist page at /artist/jim-corti for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.