I was bowled over when I first played the tape of this song, whitch Jimmy sent me very early in our work. Who on earth, I thought, could write such a song with such a title, and how could he make it come out so melodious and amusing? The hero of the novel, Norman Paperman, is indeed a Broadway press agent, and Public Relations is what he is escaping from after a nasty heart attack, to start life over on a tropical paradise. That is a dream that many peaple have, and Don't Stop the Carnival tells the funny and sad tell of Norman's awakening. 



Spoken: 

I was born on an island 

The island of Manhatten 

Dreamt all my life of a career on the 

Great White way 

Producer Norman Paperman 

Director Norman Paperman 

And I made it! 

In sort of an off the wall way I found my 

Calling-Listen 



Singing: 

Up every morning, out every evening 

Hustling for headlines, that's what I do 

Table at Sardi's, grappling for gossip 

Working the press for a mention or two 

[Paperman Cont.] I never acted like some nervous rookie 

Right form the start I was hot as a cookie 

I was a numero uno 

What a debut 



Chorus: 

Public Relations, Public Relations 

Boozing and schmoozing, that's what I do 

PR's my vocation 

And I'm a sensation 

Public relations 

Such hullabaloo 



But I went full throttle 

Never could slow down 

Then out of nowhere a mild heart attack 

Middle age crisis 

Face the big questions 

Had to get off of this foolish fast track 

It all started out 

As an add in the paper 

Now it's turned into 

A tropical caper 

But it's only public relations 

And thats what I do 



Chorus: 

Public Relations, Public Relations 

Ego inflation, that's what I do 

Isn't it wonderful, isn't it fabulou 

Public Relations, such hullabaloo 



Iris: 

Give this some thought Norman 

Things can get sticky 

Here in the tropics 

Wine turns to glue 



Norman: 

I've never seen such a beauitful ocean 



Iris: 

Holy sweet Jeues, he's got no clue 



Norman: 

I'll buy this place 

I am expatriating 



Iris: 

You as a landlord 

Sounds intoxicating 



Both: 

It's only Public Relations 

Who's screwing who 



Chorus: 

No, not that old PR 

Of the yacking and quacking 

Making folks happy 

That's what I'll do 

Sun shine and sea air 

Palm trees, martinis 

That's what I yearn for--like you, you, and you 

Just give me some time 

And I'll make it come true!