I see the flood lights burning
And wishes that's how it had been
To tell me she was doing fine
Nellie with the big old fashioned eyes
Now Nellie takes her bow
Nellie just sent me a line
I see the flood lights burning
I see the flood lights burning
And as she turns the final page
I hear the band play on
And so she acts out all her dreams
And she'll be someone else in a while
Nellie there's a different world backstage
But when the audience is near
Now Nellie takes her bow
Just a lonely girl
Who could not face a broken world
I hear the band play on
She said she really could not stay
She had a brand new play to play
I hear the band play on
Now Nellie takes her bow
It seems as though she doesn't even care
I hear the band play on
She got the lead and on Broadway
And now they're digging her today
Living someone's life upon the stage
I see the flood lights burning
Who won the heart of a crowd tore apart, took a bow
And so she paints her face and smiles
