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 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 ballet
Hey! I was happy... at the ballet
spoken: That's when I started class
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
Sheila and Bebe:
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
"Diff'rent," 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, "Diff'rent" is nice, but it sure isn't pretty
"Pretty" is what it's about
I never met anyone who was "diff'rent"
Who couldn't figure that out
So beautiful I'd never lived to see
But it was clear
If not to her
Well then to me
Bebe and Maggie:
That 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
Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie:
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
Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie: But it was home
Maggie:
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."
Bebe: But it was clear
Sheila: When he proposed
Maggie: That I was born to help their marriage and when
Sheila: That's what he said
Bebe: That's what she said
Maggie: I used to dance around the living room
Sheila: He wasn't warm
Bebe: Not to her
Maggie:
It was an Indian chief and he'd say
"Maggie, do you wanna dance?"
And I said, "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!
Sheila, Bebe, and Maggie:
Yes everything was beautiful at the ballet.