i remember when i was a little girl
my mother set the house on fire
she was like that father's face
as he dragged me out of the building
and onto the pavement
and i stood there shivering in my pajamas
and watched the whole world go up in flames
and when it was all over
i said to myself
is that all there is to a fire
is that all there is
if that all there is
if that's all there is my friend
then let's keep dancing
let's break out the booze and have a ball
if that's all there is
and when i was sixteen years old
i went to my first night club
i was really excited
and there were bored looking bankers
dancing with beautiful models
and there were boys with dyed hair and spandex t shirts
dancing with each other
and as i sat there watching
i felt that something was missing
i don't know what but when i hit
i said to myself
is that all there is to a disco
is that all there is
is that all there is
if that's all there is my friends
then let's keep dancing
let's break out the booze and have a ball
if that's all there
and then i fell in love
with the most wonderful boy in manhattan
we take long walks down by the river
and he beat me black and blue
and i loved it i'd have killed for that guy
but then one day james went away
i thought i'd die
and when i didn't i said to myself
is that all there is to love
is that all there is
is that all there is
if that's all
there is my friend
then let's keep dancing
let's break out the rules and have a ball
if that's all there is
boom boom boom boom
i know what you must be saying to yourself
if she feels that way about it
why doesn't she just slit her throat and shut up
oh no not me i'm not ready for that kind of a comedown
oh just as well as i'm standing here talking at you
that when the final moment comes
when i'm breathing my last
i'll be safe to myself
is that all there is
is that all there is
if that's all
there is my friends
then let's keep dancing
let's break out the boots and have a ball
if that's all there is
is that all there is
is that all there is
if that's all
there is my friends
then let's keep dancing
let's break out the booze and have a ball
if that's all there is
is that all there is
is that all there is
if that's all
there is my friends
then let's keep dancing
let's bring out the blues and have a ball
cause that's all there is
is that all there is
is that all there is
if that's all
there is my friends then let's keep dancing
let's break out the booze and have a ball