At the Ballet
Marvin Hamlisch
[SHEILA]
Daddy always thought that he married beneath him
That's what he said, that's what he said
When he proposed, he informed my mother
He was probably her very last chance
And though she was twenty-two
Though she was twenty-two
Though she was twenty-two
She married him

Life with my dad wasn't ever a picnic
More like a "Come as you are."
When I was five, I remember my mother
Dug earrings out of the car
I knew that they weren't hers but it wasn't
Something you'd want to discuss
He wasn't warm
Well, not to her
Well, not to us

But everything was beautiful at the ballet
Graceful men lift lovely girls in white
Yes, everything was beautiful at the ballet
Hey!
I was happy... at the ballet
(spoken)
That's when I started class...
[SHEILA and BEBE]
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
To the voice like a metronome
Up a steep and very narrow stairway

[SHEILA]
It wasn't paradise...

[BEBE]
It wasn't paradise...

[SHEILA and BEBE]
It wasn't paradise...

[SHEILA]
But it was home

[BEBE]
Mother always said I'd be very attractive
When I grew up, when I grew up
"Different," she said, "With a special something
And a very, very personal flair."
And though I was eight or nine
Though I was eight or nine
Though I was eight or nine
I hated her
Now, "different" is nice, but it sure isn't pretty
"Pretty" is what it's about
I never met anyone who was "different"
Who couldn't figure that out
So beautiful I'd never live to see
But it was clear
If not to her
Well, then to me
That...

[MAGGIE and BEBE]
Everyone is beautiful at the ballet
Every prince has got to have his swan
Yes, everyone is beautiful at the ballet

[MAGGIE]
Hey!...

[BEBE]
I was pretty...

[SHEILA]
At the ballet

[MAGGIE, SHEILA, and BEBE]
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
To the voice like a metronome
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
[MAGGIE]
It wasn't paradise...

[BEBE]
It wasn't paradise...

[SHEILA]
It wasn't paradise...

[MAGGIE, SHEILA, and BEBE]
But it was home

[MAGGIE, spoken]
I don't know what they were for or against, really, except each other. I mean, I was born to save their marriage but when my father came to pick my mother up at the hospital, he said, "Well, I thought this was going to help but I guess it's not...". Anyway, I did have a fantastic fantasy life. I used to dance around the living room with my arms up like this. My fantasy was that it was an Indian Chief, and he'd say to me, "Maggie, do you wanna dance?" and I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to dance!"

[SHEILA and MAGGIE]
Doo-doo-doo-doo

[BEBE]
But it was clear...

[BEBE and MAGGIE]
Doo-doo-doo

[SHEILA]
When he proposed...

[SHEILA and BEBE]
Doo-doo-doo

[MAGGIE]
That I was born to help their marriage and when

[MAGGIE and BEBE]
Doo-doo-doo-doo

[SHEILA]
That's what he said...

[SHEILA and MAGGIE]
Doo-doo-doo

[BEBE]
That's what she said...

[BEBE and SHEILA]
Doo-doo-doo

[MAGGIE]
I used to dance around the living room...

[BEBE and SHEILA]
Doo-doo-doo-doo

[SHEILA]
He wasn't warm...

[SHEILA and MAGGIE]
Doo-doo-doo

[BEBE]
Not to her...

[MAGGIE]
It was an Indian chief and he'd say:
"Maggie, do you wanna dance?"
And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to..."

Everything was beautiful at the ballet
Raise your arms and someone's always there
Yes, everything was beautiful at the ballet
At the ballet
At the ballet!

[MAGGIE, SHEILA, and BEBE]
Yes, everything was beautiful at the ballet

[MAGGIE]
Hey!

[BEBE]
I was pretty...

[SHEILA]
I was happy...

[MAGGIE]
"I would love to..."

[MAGGIE, SHEILA, and BEBE]
At the ballet
Write the lyrics for a pop song made in 1975, titled "At the Ballet", by artist "Marvin Hamlisch".