Hey kids, let's do a show.
I know a place where we can go.
It's in hustling, bustling downtown St. Paul,
And the Fitzgerald is the name of the hall.
There's no sweeter little theater that you ever saw,
It's on the corner of Exchange and Wabasha,
So dust off the seats and scrape off the gum
'cause Fitzgerald Theater, here we come!
We came here in 1978
With a radio show that had to relocate
And we found this old pile of bricks
It was called the World and it showed flicks
It was a wreck, it smelled of popcorn grease
Gum on the floor and busted seats
But we brought in a hundred volunteers
Paid them with pizza, Coke and beer
And now the fat lady sings
And I see the ghosts standing in the wings.
Ray Marklund the stagehand, tools in his lap
Chet Atkins, his guitar, his name on the strap
Mr. Tom Keith our old sound effects man
Phil Everly, Jethro, Jean Redpath and
Kate Wolf, and Helen Schneyer.
Soon enough we will be joining them there
Hey folks, thanks to you
In 1985 you made the place brand new.
Sent in donations from all 50 states
To reconstruct, refurbish, renew, renovate,
Your names still inscribed on the back wall
And we are grateful to you all
Who made the Fitzgerald what it is,
A shining temple of show biz
So kids, on with the show.
The lights are dazzling in radio
Goodbye to the old, as the new begins
Clap if you can and forgive us our sins.
Farewell from Exchange and Wabasha,
All things must end, it's a natural law
It was a long and marvelous flight
And Fitzgerald Theater, thank you, goodnight.