Live, Laugh, Love

[BEN]
When the winds are blowing—

[ENSEMBLE, spoken]
Yes?

[BEN]
That's the time to smile

[ENSEMBLE, spoken]
Oh?

[BEN]
Learn how to laugh
Learn how to love
Learn how to live
That's my style

When the rent is owing—

[ENSEMBLE, spoken]
Yes?

[BEN]
What's the use of tears?

[ENSEMBLE, spoken]
Oh?

[BEN]
I'd rather laugh
I'd rather love
I'd rather live
In arrears

Some fellows sweat
To get
To be millionaires
Some have a sport
They're devotees of
Some like to be the champs
At saving postage stamps
Mе, I like to live
Me, I likе to laugh
Me, I like to love!

Some like to sink
And think
In their easy chairs
Of all the things
They've risen above
Some like to be profound
By reading Proust and Pound
Me, I like to live
Me, I like to laugh
Me, I like to love!

Success is swell and success is sweet
But every height has a drop
The less achievement, the less defeat
What's the point of shovin'
Your way to the top?
Live 'n' laugh 'n' love 'n'
You're never a flop

So when the walls are crumbling—

[ENSEMBLE, spoken]
Yes?

[BEN]
Don't give up the ship

[ENSEMBLE, spoken]
No

[BEN]
Learn how to laugh
Learn how to love
Learn how to live
That's my tip!

When I hear the rumbling—

[ENSEMBLE, spoken]
Yes?

[BEN]
Do I lose my grip?

[ENSEMBLE, spoken]
No!

[BEN]
I have to laugh
I have to love
I have to live
That's my trip!

Some get a boot
From shoot-
Ing off cablegrams
Or buzzing bells
To summon the staff
Some climbers get their kicks
From social politics
Me, I like to love
Me, I—
(spoken)
Me, I like to love
Me—

(sung)
Some break their asses
Passing their bar exams
Lay out their lives
Like lines on a graph...
One day they're diplomats—
Well, bully and congrats!
Me, I like to love
(spoken)
Me, I like to... love me?
Stop.
Stop!

[YOUNG BUDDY]
Hey up there!

[YOUNG BEN]
Way up there!

[YOUNG BEN & YOUNG BUDDY]
Whaddaya say, up there?

[YOUNG SALLY, spoken]
Hi!

[YOUNG BEN, spoken]
Girls...

[YOUNG PHYLLIS, spoken]
Ben...

[YOUNG BUDDY, spoken]
Sally...