[Chorus:]
Up and down, over the town,
Motley and merriment speed along,
Ev'ry one welcomes the fun,
Nobody cares what is right or wrong.
Just for today folly is king!
Let us be gay, that is the thing!
Just for today, today,
Let us be gay, be gay,
Oh! Up and down, over the town,
Motley and merriment speed along,
Ev'ry one welcomes the fun,
Nobody cares what is right or wrong.
Nobody cares what is right or wrong.
Nobody cares.
[Men:]
For Carnival's reigning, and mirth derides
The gloomy complaining of sober-sides!
[Ladies:]
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
[Men:]
We want no permission to banish hence
The faintest suspicion of common sense
[Ladies:]
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
[Men:]
Your friends and relations no doubt confess
They like the sensations of fancy dress,
[Ladies:]
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
[Men:]
While sweetheart and brother will gaily throw
Confetti that smother from top to toe!
[Ladies:]
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!
[All:]
Just for today, let us be gay,
Let us be gay, be gay, be gay!
Up and down, over the town,
Motley and merriment speed along,
Ev'ry one welcomes the fun,
Nobody cares what is right or wrong.
Nobody cares what is right or wrong.
Nobody cares!
Nobody cares what is right or wrong.
Nobody cares, right or wrong,
Nobody cares!