You learn to sing
You learn to play
Why don’t the businessmen ever learn to pay?
That’s show business (Show business)
Show business (Show business)
Show business
That’s the way it goes
You play in halls
You play in bars
You’re climbin’ walls
Chasin’ stars
That’s show business (Show business)
Show business (Show business)
Show business
That’s the way it goes
You pay the man
You pay your dues
When it’s all gone, oh
You sing the blues
Show business (Show business)
Show business (Show business)
Show business
That’s the way it goes
You wanna roll
You wanna rock
But you find it hard
If your guitar’s in hock
That’s show business (Show business)
Show business (Show business)
Show business
That’s the way it goes
You’re smoking butts
They smoke cigars
You’re drowned in debt
They drown in bars
That’s show business (Show business)
Show business (Show business)
Show business
That’s the way it goes
You pull a chick
Take her home
No use, man
You’re worn out to the bone
That’s show business (Show business)
Show business (Show business)
Show business
That’s the way it goes
That’s show business, show business
That’s show business, show business, show business
That’s the way it goes
Know what I mean
The Grit and Reality Behind the Curtain
“Show Business” by AC/DC strips away the glamour often associated with the music industry, revealing a world where passion meets hardship. The lyrics candidly illustrate the everyday struggles of musicians: learning their craft, hustling for gigs, and dealing with financial pressures. Lines like “You pay your dues / When it’s all gone, oh / You sing the blues” highlight the sacrifices and challenges artists face, often juxtaposed with the prosperity of those on the business side. The recurring chorus, “That’s show business, that’s the way it goes,” serves as both a resignation and a rallying cry—a recognition that the hardships are intrinsic to the pursuit of musical dreams.
Song Credits
- Artist: AC/DC
- Songwriters: Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott
- Release Year: 1975
- Label: Albert Productions