Polly Jean Harvey - Is That All There Is ? lyrics

rate me

I remember when i was a girl

Our house caught on fire

And i'll never forget the look on my father's face

As he gathered me in his arms

And raced to the burning building out on the pavement

And i stood there shivering

And watched the whole world go up in flames

And when it was all over

I said to myself

" is that all there is to a fire ? "

Is that all there is?

Is that all there is?

If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep dancing

Let's break out the booze and have a ball

If that's all there is

And when i was twelve years old

My daddy took me to the circus

The greatest show on earth

And there were clowns

And elephants

Dancing bears,

And a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads

And as i sat there watching

I had the feeling that something was missing

I don't know what

But when it was all over

I said to myself

" is that all there is to the circus ? "

Is that all there is?

If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep dancing

Let's break out the booze and have a ball

If that's all there is

And then i fell in love

With the most wonderful boy in the world

We'd take long walks down by the river

Or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes

We were so very much in love

And then one day

He went away

And i thought i'd die

But i didn't

And when i didn't

I said to myself

" is that all there is to love ? "

Is that all there is?

If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep

I know what you must be saying to yourselves

If that's the way she feels about it

Then why doesn't she just end it all

Oh no. not me. i'm not ready for the final disappointment

'cause i know just as well as i'm standing here talking to you

That when that final moment comes

And i'm breathing my last breath

I know what i'll be saying to myself

" is that all there is ? "

Is that all there is?

If that's all there is, my friends, then let's keep dancing

Let's break out the booze and have a ball

If that's all there is

Lyrics by Jerry Leiber. Music by Mike Stoller

Thanks to Amy Stoller for these lyrics