“Life’s a Funny Proposition”

By GEORGE M. COHAN

Did you ever sit and ponder

Sit and wonder

Sit and think

Why we’re here and what this life is all about?

It’s a problem that has driven many brainy men to drink,

It’s the weirdest thing they’ve tried to figure out,

About a thousand theories all the scientists can show

But never yet have proved a reason why

With all we’ve thought and all we’re taught

Why, all we seem to know is we’re born

And live a little while

And then we die.

Life’s a very funny proposition after all.

Three meals a day

A whole lot to say,

When you haven’t got the coin

You’re always in the way.

Everybody’s fighting as we wend our way along,

Every fellow claims the other fellow’s in the wrong.

Hurried and worried until we’re buried

And there’s no curtain call,

Life’s a funny proposition, after all.

When all things are coming easy and when luck is with a man,

Why, then life to him is sunshine everywhere;

Then the Fates blow rather breezy and they quite upset a plan,

Then he’ll cry that life’s a burden hard to bear.

Though today may be a day of smiles,

Tomorrow’s still in doubt

And what brings me joy may bring you care and woe.

We’re born to die

But we don’t know why

Or what it’s all about,

And the more we try to learn the less we know

And no one’s ever solved the problem properly as yet.

Young for a day, then old and gray,

Like the rose that buds and blooms

And fades—and falls away.

Losing health to gain our wealth

As through this dream we tour,

Everything’s a guess and nothing’s absolutely sure.

Battles exciting and fates we’re fighting

Until the curtains fall,

Life’s a funny proposition, after all.

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