THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
By
Barry Manilow

***************

So you have finally made up your mind
Take one last look at who you’re leaving behind
We lost the ending we were too late
But we took time enough to devestate
When people never say things
They lead themselves astray

Oh oh oh
The one that got away
Gave me everything
I never had
Oh oh
The one that got away

Gave me everything I never
I had no problems you had no doubts
We were the ones they used to talk about
We saw no windows we had no door
I used to wonder what the shouting’s for
When people never say things
They watch their love decay

When loves take it too far
They bow their heads and say

One that got away

THE CHRISTMAS WALTZ

***************

Frosted windowpanes
Candles gleaming inside
Painted candy canes on the tree
Santa’s on his way
He’s filled his sleigh with things
Things for you and me

It’s that time of year
When the world falls in love
Ev’ry song you hear seems to say
Merry Christmas
May your New Year dreams come true
And this song of mine
In three-quarter time
Wishes you and yours
The same thing too

WORK THE ROOM

***************

Open a door
On the seventeenth floor
Secretary sends me through
Walkin’ right in
With a big time grin
But I’m shakin’ in my shoes

Suit One shakes my hand
But it takes him a beat to recall my name
Gotta move it along
Gotta play somethin’ strong
Gotta show ‘em why I came

Work the room
Work the room, baby
Nobody here wants to know you
But tomorrow they’ll be talkin’ about you
Work the room

Startin’ in sweet
With a rockin’ beat
Show ‘em I can really ride
Not about fluff
Get to serious stuff
Here’s my softer side

Suit Two frowns
Is it bringin’ him down?
Or does it mean he’s in the groove?
Back to the beat
Activatin’ their feet
See the Pradas start to move

Work the room
They’re movin’
Oh baby
Watch them beginnin’ to wonder
You can bet tomorrow
They’ll have serious hunger
Work the room

Go one step up
Or all the way back
Take the turns
Or jump the track
Rise an inch – or fall for a mile
All the time remember to smile

Stoppin’ the show
But they don’t say go
Suddenly smiles all ‘round
Man oh man
We’re shakin’ hands
Telling me they like my sound

Big Suit smilin’ at me
Talkin’ about sales and fame
Everybody’s talkin’ to me
Makin’ it like I got it
Dammit now they know my name!

Work the room
They want me
I got it!
You went in an unsung zero
You’re comin’ out a musical hero
Never gonna have to work the room again!

LET’S HANG ON

***************

There ain’t no good in our goodbyein’
True love takes a lot of tryin’
Ohh, I’m cryin’

Let’s hang on
To what we’ve got
Don’t let go girl
We got a lot
Got a lotta love between us
Hang on
Hang on
Hang on

To what we got
You say you’re gonna go and call it quits
Gonna check it all and break
Our love to bits
Break it up
(I wish you’d never said it)
Break it up
(Oh, no we’ll both regret it)
That little chip of diamond on your hand
Ain’t a fortune baby but you know it stands
For the love
(a love to tie and bind ya)
Such a love
(we both can’t leave behind us)

Baby
(don’t you go)
Baby
(don’t you go)
Think it over and stay

There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do
I’d pay any price to get in good with you
Patch it up
(give me a second turnin’)
Patch it up
(don’t cool off while I’m burning)
You’ve got me cryin’ dyin’ at your door
Don’t shut me out
Ooh let me in once more
Open up
(your arms I need to hold you)
Open up
(your heart, oh girl I love you)
Baby
(don’t you know)
Baby
(don’t you go)
Think it over and stay

BIG CITY BLUES

***************

Much of my life has been spiced with romance

Too many bedrooms I’ve slept in by chance

Drownin’ out my sorrow

Longin’ for tomorrow

Caught up in the big city blues

Rain pourin’ down from a cold winter sky

Don’t wanna smile and I’m too sad to cry

Clouds hangin’ above me

No one there to love me

Guess it’s just the big city blues

Someday I’ll find me the dream that I’m after
I’ll know her with only a glance

She’ll make me smile and she’ll fill me with
Laughter
And our love will be like a dance

Skies will be clear and the sweet sun will shine
I’ll hold her near and I’ll know that she’s mine
No more stormy weather
Love will last forever
Good bye to the big city blues

Someday I’ll find me the dream that I’m after
I’ll know her with only a glance

She’ll make me smile and she’ll fill me with
Laughter
And our love will be like a dance

Skies will be clear and the sweet sun will shine
I’ll hold her near and I’ll know that she’s mine
No more stormy weather
Love will last forever
Good bye to the big city blues
Good bye to the big city blues
Good bye to the big city
Good bye to the big city blues

WELCOME HOME

***************

In my life
I have seen
Far away places
Wild and serene
But nothing I saw
Prepared me for
The mat on the floor
Saying “welcome home”

Time flies
See the moon rise
As I’m makin’ my way
Through another long day
But I’ll go
To a place I know
In my heart I know
There’s just no place
Like home

Welcome home
Welcome home
To that place
That’s safe and warm
Always a shelter
From the storm
I’m going home
Welcome home
Roll out the welcome mat
For me!
I’m goin’ home

Sometimes
I remember
All the days I never knew
If I would ever make it through
But just when
I’d give up again
I’d remember when the days
Were stormy
Home was always
Waitin’ for me
Sayin’

Welcome home
Welcome home
Where there will always be
A welcoming light on
Just for me
When I go home
Welcome home
No place
That I would rather be
Than goin’ home

In my heart I know
That someday when my time
Is drawing near
I’m gonna hear

Welcome home
Welcome home
Where there will always be
Somebody waiting
There for me
When I go home
Home sweet home
Everyone’s smilin’ just for me
When I go home
In my heart I see
Somebody waiting
There for me

Welcome home
Welcome home
It looks like a
Starlight symphony
I’m goin’ home