Harold Arlen and Tony Bennett

Lyrics

Bright lights are dimmer
Bank roll is slimmer
Looks like I’m down and done
Bye bye
I gotta run
Bye bye

So long, so long
Big time
So long, so long
Big time

I made it fine
I made it fast
That ain’t the sign
It has to last

Had it made for a while
In a highfalutin style

So long, so long
Big time
Big dough, bright lights
Big time

I won’t pretend I am
Glad its ended
It was fun
Now its done
But I’ll never sing
A loser’s song

So long big time
I gotta run
So long

Tell the chicks
And tell all the cronies
Lost it all on the cards
And the ponies
Tell the friends
And fair-weather phonies
Living high
Tell ’em, “Bye”
And tell ’em why

Lady Luck just gave me the brush off
So I’ll rush off
And try a new routine

I’m a guy who rolls with the punches
And my hunch is
Its time to quit the scene

Tell the kids
And tell all the cookies
Tell the babes
And tell all the bookies
That I knew
That I’m through
And when you do
Buy a few beers for me
Tell ’em no tears for me

So long, so long
Big time
Big dough, bright lights
Big time

Ain’t gonna grieve
‘Cause I must be leaving
It was fun
Now its done
But I’ll never sing
A loser’s song

So long big time
I gotta run
So long

Session / Album Information

1963

“So Long, Big Time!” was recorded on  September 17, 1963 and released in 1964 on the album The Many Moods of Tony. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

Harold Arlen conducted this song for the recording session; a video of this recording session may be viewed on YouTube.

This recording released on: