Razzle Dazzle
Chicago Soundtrack Featuring Richard Gere Lyrics
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Razzle Dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate
Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Bead and feather 'em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?
What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they;ll never catch wise!
Give 'em the old Razzle Dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Give 'em a show that's so splendiferous
Row after row will crow vociferous
Give 'em the old flim flam flummox
Fool and fracture 'em
How can they hear the truth above the roar?
Throw 'em a fake and a finagle
They'll never know you're just a bagel,
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll beg you for more!
Give 'em the old double whammy
Daze and dizzy 'em
Back since the days of old Methuselah
Everyone loves the big bambooz-a-ler
Give 'em the old three ring circus
Stun and stagger 'em
When you're in trouble, go into your dance
Though you are stiffer than a girder
They'll let you get away with murder
Razzle dazzle 'em
And you've got a romance
COMPANY(The same time as BILLY's)
Give 'em the old
Razzle Dazzle
BILLY
Give 'em the old Razzle Dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Show 'em the first rate sorceror you are
Long as you keep 'em way off balance
How can they spot you've got no talents
Razzle Dazzle 'em
BILLY AND COMPANY
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Razzle Dazzle 'em
And they'll make you a star!
The song "Razzle Dazzle" from the Chicago soundtrack featuring Richard Gere is all about the art of deception and showmanship in performance. It suggests that in order to captivate an audience, one must create a spectacle that distracts from any potential flaws or shortcomings. The lyrics advise to give them an act with lots of flash, and they will be passionate. The song advises using techniques like hocus pocus, bead and feather, sequins, flim flam, double whammy, and more to dazzle and distract the audience from the reality of the performance. The suggestion is that the audience will be too mesmerized by the spectacle to notice if anything is awry.
As the song continues, it confronts the idea that perhaps the performer has real shortcomings or flaws. The lyrics ask, "What if your hinges all are rusting?" and "What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?" despite these potential issues, the song suggests that by maintaining a flashy performance, they will never catch wise.
The lyrics are clever and satirical, highlighting the idea that show business is all about the illusion of perfection and the art of deception. The song is a commentary on the sensationalism of performers and the lengths that they will go to in order to maintain their image as flawless and entertaining.
Line by Line Meaning
Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Use charm and deception to captivate and distract your audience
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Repeat the razzle dazzle technique
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
Provide an exciting and visually stimulating performance
And the reaction will be passionate
The audience will respond with intense emotion
Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Use trickery and illusion to manipulate the audience
Bead and feather 'em
Distract and confuse the audience with shiny objects and distractions
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?
The audience is so captivated by the spectacle that they can't see through the deception
What if your hinges all are rusting?
What if you're not as charming and talented as you appear?
What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?
What if your true self is repulsive and unappealing?
And they;ll never catch wise!
As long as you dazzle them, they won't realize the truth
Give 'em a show that's so splendiferous
Provide a magnificent and impressive spectacle
Row after row will crow vociferous
The audience will react enthusiastically and loudly
Give 'em the old flim flam flummox
Deceive and confuse the audience with nonsense
Fool and fracture 'em
Trick and break the audience's confidence
How can they hear the truth above the roar?
The audience is too loud and distracted to hear the truth
Throw 'em a fake and a finagle
Provide a deceptive perception of reality
They'll never know you're just a bagel,
They'll never know the truth about you
And they'll beg you for more!
The audience will crave and desire your performances
Give 'em the old double whammy
Hit them with two deceptive techniques at once
Daze and dizzy 'em
Stun and disorient the audience
Back since the days of old Methuselah
This trick has been used for a very long time
Everyone loves the big bambooz-a-ler
People are easily impressed by grand deception
Give 'em the old three ring circus
Provide a complex, multifaceted performance
Stun and stagger 'em
Surprise and shock the audience
When you're in trouble, go into your dance
When things get difficult, resort to your usual deception tactics
Though you are stiffer than a girder
Even if you lack talent or flexibility
They'll let you get away with murder
The audience will forgive and overlook your flaws and mistakes
And you've got a romance
Your razzle dazzle technique can be a seduction tool
Show 'em the first rate sorceror you are
Demonstrate your masterful deception skills
Long as you keep 'em way off balance
As long as you keep them distracted and uncertain
How can they spot you've got no talents
They won't realize you lack real abilities
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Repeat the razzle dazzle grind
And they'll make you a star!
The audience will turn you into a beloved performer
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRED EBB, JOHN KANDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind