THE LADIES WHO LUNCH lyrics

[JOANNE]

I'd like to propose a toast...

1 Here's to the ladies who lunch—

Everybody laugh

Lounging in their caftans

And planning a brunch

On their own behalf

Off to the gym

Then to a fitting

Claiming they're fat

And looking grim

'Cause they've been sitting

Choosing a hat

Does anyone still wear a hat?

I'll drink to that

2 And here's to the girls who stay smart —

Aren't they a gas?

Rushing to their classes in optical art,

Wishing it would pass

Another long exhausting day

Another thousand dollars

A matinée, a Pinter play

Perhaps a piece of Mahler's

I'll drink to that

And one for Mahler!

3 And here's to the girls who play wife —

Aren't they too much?

Keeping house but clutching a copy of "Life"

Just to keep in touch

The ones who follow the rules

And meet themselves at the schools

Too busy to know that they're fools

Aren't they a gem?

I'll drink to them!

Let's all drink to them!

4 And here's to the girls who just watch —

Aren't they the best?

When they get depressed

It's a bottle of Scotch

Plus a little jest

Another chance to disapprove

Another brilliant zinger

Another reason not to move

Another vodka stinger

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!

I'll drink to that

5 So here's to the girls on the go —

Everybody tries

Look into their eyes

And you'll see what they know:

Everybody dies

A toast to that invincible bunch

The dinosaurs surviving the crunch.

Let's hear it for the ladies who lunch —

Everybody rise!

Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise! Rise!

Rise!

• Artist:Stephen Sondheim
• Album:Elaine Stritch