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!