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