Don't tell me not to live
Just sit and putter
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade

Don't tell me not to fly
I've simply got to
If someone takes a spill
It's me and not you
Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade

I'm marchin' my band out
I'm beatin' my drum
And if I'm fanned out
Your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn't fake it
Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it

But whether I'm the rose of sheer perfection
A freckle on the nose of life's complexion
A cinder on the shiny apple of its eye
I gotta fly once
I gotta try once
Only can die once, right, sir
Ooh, life is juicy
Juicy, and you see
I gotta have my bite, sir

Get ready for me, love, cause I'm a comer
I simply gotta march
My heart's a drummer
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
I'm gonna live and live now
Get what I want I know how

One roll for the whole shebang
One throw, that bell will go clang
Eye on the target and wham
One shot, one gun shot, and BAM
Hey, Mr. Arnsteen
Here I am

I'll march my band out
I'll beat my drum
And if I'm fanned out
Your turn at bat, sir
At least I didn't fake it
Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it
Get ready for me, love, 'cause I'm a comer
I simply gotta march, my heart's a drummer
Nobody, no, nobody
Is gonna rain on my parade