The time has returned to the opening scene, with
Fanny in her dressing room, remembering her past.
It's the day Nick gets out of prison after eighteen months.
Fanny tells Ziegfeld she's ready to give up performing
If Nick asks her. Nick arrives and tells her he thinks
They should split up. Fanny is rocked but pretends this
Is what she feels also. Nick leaves, and Fanny prepares
To face the future without him:
I'll march my band out,
I'll beat my drum,
Guess we didn't make it,
At least I didn't fake it.
Don't tell me not to live,
Just sit and putter,
Life's candy; the sun's
A ball of butter.
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,
All that the law will allow.
Hey, gorgeous, here we go again.
Well, here it goes, kid,
No lookin' back,
Stiff upper nose, kid,
Let's give 'em hell, Brice,
We'll cry a little later,
Well, Brice, that's life in the the-a-ter!
Get ready for me, world,
'Cause I'm a "comer,"
I simply gotta march,
My heart's a drummer.
Nobody, no, nobody
Is gonna rain on my parade.