Now You Know - Stephen Sondheim

FRIEND

So you’ve made a mistake

So you’re singing the blues

So you’ll take some time

Go visit some places —

MARY

You’ve got to be somewhere

Where there’s nothing to remind you —

Right?

FRIEND

What you need is a break —

I’ll arrange a nice cruise

You’ll relax a bit and

See some new faces…

CHARLEY AND MARY

You’ve got to do something —

Only never look behind you

FRIENDS

Right?

Best thing that ever could have happened

Right

So you’ll sit in the sun

You’ll come back with a tan

Then we’ll do that show

You’ve always been talking —

The side is retired

So we start another inning —

Right?

On a boat is such fun —

You’ll come back a changed man —

I’ve had lots of guests and

No one’s squawking

CHARLEY AND MARY

Feels like an ending

But it’s really a beginning —

Right?

FRIENDS

Best thing that ever could have happened

I say, best thing that ever could have happened —

Best thing that ever could have happened —

One more thing not to think about…

FRANK

Right

MARY

All right

Now you know:

Life is crummy

Well, now you know

I mean, big surprise:

People love you and tell you lies

Bricks can tumble from clear blue skies

Put your dimple down

Now you know

Okay, there you go —

That’s the sum of 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

If the going’s slow

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

All right, nothing’s fair

And it’s all a plot

And tomorrow doesn’t look too hot —

Right

You better look at what you’ve got:

Over here, hello!

Okay, now you know

Right?

FRIENDS

So you’ll find a new gal —

So you’ll write a new play —

In a month or two

You’re going to thank us

MARY

You may have missed one road

But there’s plenty more to follow

Right?

FRIEND

We’ll go through the canal

Up the coast to LA.

You’ll come see the place

I’m building at Trancas

CHARLEY

You hang around here, pal

And you’re only gonna wallow

Right?

FRIENDS

Right!

Best thing that ever could have happened!

MARY

I mean, you’ll come back

I mean, what’s the fuss?

CHARLEY

I mean, sea and sun and comfort plus

CHARLEY AND MARY

I mean, after all, you’ve still got us

FRIENDS

Best thing that ever could have happened!

Best thing that ever could have happened!

Best thing that ever could have happened!

It was all getting much too complicated…

Best thing that ever could have happened!

FRANK

Right!

You’ve gotta let go

Gotta do it from scratch

Take a long deep breath

Go back to your sources

A little vacation

Which is all about forgetting —

Right?

ALL

Right!

FRANK

Right!

Then we’ll do a new show —

No, we’ll do a whole batch —

Maybe one that’s all about divorces!

I mean, a divorce court —

What a fascinating setting!

Right?

ALL

Right!

FRANK

Right!

ALL

Best thing that ever could have happened…

Best thing that ever could have happened…

I say, best thing that ever could have happened…

It’s your time, your time…

Yesterday is done

See the pretty countryside

Soon enough you’re merrily, merrily

Rolling along…

Rolling along…

So you’ll sit in the sun

You’ll come back with a tan

In a month or two

You’re going to thank us

It’s your time…

It’s your time…

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

So now you grow

MARY

You’re right, nothing’s fair

And it’s all a plot

And tomorrow doesn’t look too hot —

ALL

Right, you better look at what you’ve got:

Over here, hello?

Over here, hello!

Now you know!

Now you know!

Right!

Right!

Right!

Right!

Now you know!