I was bowled over when I first played the tape of this song, whitch Jimmy sent me very early in our work. Who on earth, I thought, could write such a song with such a title, and how could he make it come out so melodious and amusing? The hero of the novel, Norman Paperman, is indeed a Broadway press agent, and Public Relations is what he is escaping from after a nasty heart attack, to start life over on a tropical paradise. That is a dream that many peaple have, and Don't Stop the Carnival tells the funny and sad tell of Norman's awakening.
Spoken:
I was born on an island
The island of Manhatten
Dreamt all my life of a career on the
Great White way
Producer Norman Paperman
Director Norman Paperman
And I made it!
In sort of an off the wall way I found my
Calling-Listen
Singing:
Up every morning, out every evening
Hustling for headlines, that's what I do
Table at Sardi's, grappling for gossip
Working the press for a mention or two
[Paperman Cont.] I never acted like some nervous rookie
Right form the start I was hot as a cookie
I was a numero uno
What a debut
Chorus:
Public Relations, Public Relations
Boozing and schmoozing, that's what I do
PR's my vocation
And I'm a sensation
Public relations
Such hullabaloo
But I went full throttle
Never could slow down
Then out of nowhere a mild heart attack
Middle age crisis
Face the big questions
Had to get off of this foolish fast track
It all started out
As an add in the paper
Now it's turned into
A tropical caper
But it's only public relations
And thats what I do
Chorus:
Public Relations, Public Relations
Ego inflation, that's what I do
Isn't it wonderful, isn't it fabulou
Public Relations, such hullabaloo
Iris:
Give this some thought Norman
Things can get sticky
Here in the tropics
Wine turns to glue
Norman:
I've never seen such a beauitful ocean
Iris:
Holy sweet Jeues, he's got no clue
Norman:
I'll buy this place
I am expatriating
Iris:
You as a landlord
Sounds intoxicating
Both:
It's only Public Relations
Who's screwing who
Chorus:
No, not that old PR
Of the yacking and quacking
Making folks happy
That's what I'll do
Sun shine and sea air
Palm trees, martinis
That's what I yearn for--like you, you, and you
Just give me some time
And I'll make it come true!