Barsad: Working hard is a curse
Cruncher: And sā a man an early hers
Barsad: Slaving day and night's no way to lighten my load
Both: Why should we all work on this job
When it's easier to cheat and rob
Carton: Let some law-abiding slob take the high road
All: There's just no honest way
There's just no honest way
Barsad: There's no way you can thrive and keep honesty alive
Carton: Try to scale the moral peak and never backslide
Barsad: Those with all the power in their hands
Get the law to bow to their demands
All: And the law-abiding man just lands on his backside
There's just no honest way
There's just no honest way
Barsad: And if you go to court tomorrow
Ensemble: He'll be on the stand.
A certain Frenchman's up for treason put there by his hand!
Barsad: There's a Marquis quite grand with a nephew he can't stand
So good - hearted any heartless chap should hate
But with just a couple lies from me
He'll be framed just like the Mona Lee
And they'll take him out and swiftly de - capitate him
Carton: For with no honest way it's hard to keep from doing wrong.
Barsad & Ensemble: And with no honest way he has no choice but go along!
Barsad: Look at him; like a tot. Should we wake him? Better not.
What's this pokin' from his pocket
What's this token that he's got?
Why's he loaded down with all this wealth?
He'd be happier with just his health...
(whistle)
There's just no honest way
There's just no honest way
There's just no decent,
Law-abiding, honest way