Carrying the Banner



Carrying the Banner is a large dance number that features Jack and the other Newsies.

Plot
Carrying the Banner takes place immediately following Santa Fe (Prologue). In it, the Newsies sing about the woes of of their lives as Newsies. During the song, the Newsies travel through Downtown Manhattan from the Newsboys Lodge to the front gate of the World, eventually making their way to Newsies Square. Along the way, they meet some Nuns, who distribute breakfast to the Newsies.

Lyrics
Race

Hey!

That's my cigar!

Albert

You'll steal another

Specs

Hey look, it's bath time at the zoo

Henry

I'd thought that I'd surprise me mother

Albert

If you can find her

Newsies

Who asked you?

[dialogue] 

Race

From bottle alley to the harbor

There's easy pickin's guaranteed

Finch

Try any banker, bum, or barber

They almost all knows how to read

Jack

It's a crooked game we're playin'

One we'll never lose

Long as suckers don't mind payin'

Just to get bad news!

Newsies

Ain't it a fine life

Carrying the banner though it all

A mighty fine life

Carrying the banner tough and tall

When that bell rings

We goes where we wishes

We's as free as fishes

Sure beats washin' dishes

What a fine life

Carrying the banner home free all

[dialogue]

Crutchie

It takes a smile that spreads like butter

The kind that turns a ladies head

Race

It takes an orphan with a stutter

Finch

Who's also blind

Albert

And mute

Elmer

And dead!

<p style="text-align:center;">Jack, Crutchie

Summer stinks and winter's freezin'

When you works outdoors

<p style="text-align:center;">Jack, Crutchie, Buttons, Splasher, Tommy Boy

Start out sweatin', end up sneezin'

<p style="text-align:center;">Newsies

In between it pours!

Still it's a fine life (still it's a fine life)

Carrying the banner (carrying the banner)

With me chums (with me chums)

A bunch o' big shots (a bunch o' big shots)

Tossin' out a freebie to the bums (Tossin' out a freebie...)

<p style="text-align:center;">Finch

Hey! What's the hold up?

Waitin' makes me antsy

I likes living chancey

<p style="text-align:center;">Newsies

Harlem to Delancy

What a fine life

Carrying the banner through the...

<p style="text-align:center;">Nuns

Blessed children

Though you wander

Lost and depraved

Jesus loves you

You shall be saved

[dialouge]

(simultaneously with Race and Nuns)

<p style="text-align:center;">Elmer

Just give me half a cup

<p style="text-align:center;">Henry

Something to wake me up

<p style="text-align:center;">Romeo

I gotta find an angle

<p style="text-align:center;">Tommy Boy

It's getting bad out there

<p style="text-align:center;">Mush

Papers is all I got

<p style="text-align:center;">Specs

It's eighty-eight degrees

<p style="text-align:center;">Jo Jo

Jack says to change my spot

<p style="text-align:center;">Albert

Wish I could catch a breeze

<p style="text-align:center;">Finch

Maybe it's worth a shot

<p style="text-align:center;">Buttons

All I can catch is fleas

<p style="text-align:center;">Jack

If I hate the headline

I'll make up a headline

<p style="text-align:center;">Jack, Crutchie

And I'll say anything I have'ta

<p style="text-align:center;">Jack, Crutchie, Race, Romeo

'Cause at two for a penny

If I take too many

Weasel just makes me eat 'em afta'

<p style="text-align:center;">Newsies

You wanna move the next edition?

Give us an earthquake or a war

<p style="text-align:center;">Elmer

How 'bout a crooked politician?

<p style="text-align:center;">Newsies

Ya nitwit, that ain't news no more!

Uptown to Grand Central Station

Down to City Hall

We improves our articulation

Walkin' till we fall

[dialogue]

<p style="text-align:center;">Newsies

We'll all be out there

Carrying the banner man to man

We're always out there

Soakin' every sucker that we can

Here's the headline:

"Newsies on a Mission!"

Kill the competition!

Sell the next edition!

We'll all be out there

Carrying the banner!

See us out there

Carrying the banner!

Always out there

Carrying the banner!

Ah, ah, ah

Go!

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