Jerry Herman — World Take Me Back from Hello Dolly

[JERRY HERMAN, spoken] Hello, Dolly! gave me the opportunity of working with some of the greatest ladies in show business. Dolly number one was, of course, and always will be, my dear friend the fabulous Carol Channing. Carol was followed at the St. James by Ginger Rogers, Betty Grable, Pearl Bailey, Martha Raye, Phyllis Diller, and Ethel Merman. While Mary Martin, Eve Arden, and Dorothy Lamour were traipsing around the country, and Barbra Streisand was preparing the film version. Now that's not easy to do I thought it would be fun to do a number that was cut from Hello, Dolly! before we ever went into rehearsal, and then reinstated when Ethel Merman joined the company in our seventh year. When Ethel was learning the number, I thought it was only right for me to explain to her that this song was replaced with "Before the Parade Passes By," so of course, both songs had very similar things to say. Ethel just looked at me and said, "I don't care, I'll sing 'em both!" [KAREN MORROW] I've sliced my slice of life a little thin Haven't I, Ephraim? I've been on the outside looking in Haven't I, Ephraim? The world is full of wonderful things A bushel of wonderful things For me to believe in So world, take me back I want to be Part of the human race again And bid goodbye to all my trouble and tears I've wasted so many odd years It's time to get even So world, take me back I want to let Laughter light up my face again Oh, no more peekin' through the keyhole I intend to have my own key No more sneakin' past the parlor From now on, it's me sittin' on the settee 'Cause today's a day to holler about For after just sitting life out Since heavens know when My step has a spring and a drive I'm suddenly young and alive You wonderful world Take me back again! The world is full of Aprils & Junes Red roses and yellow balloons For me to hang onto So world, take me back I want to be Part of those good old days again! Whatever happened to those flickering lights Those dancing the night-away nights Oh, where have they gone to? So world, take me back I want to be There when those gas lights blaze again! Oh, no more watching from the sidelines I intend to star in the show No more reaching for tomorrow From now on, I stand with today in my hand For today the world is ripe as a peach It's going to be mine 'til I reach A hundred and ten My step has a spring and a drive I'm suddenly young and alive You wonderful world Take me back again!