Bette Midler

Released: October 25, 2005

Songwriter: Mike Stoller Jerry Leiber

Producer: Barry Manilow

"I remember when I was a very little girl, our house caught on fire
I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me up in his arms
And raced through the burning building out to the pavement
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?
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

"And when I was 12 years old, my father took me to the circus, the greatest show on earth
There were clowns and elephants and dancing bears and a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads
And as I sat there watching the marvelous spectacle, I had the feeling that something was missing
I don't know what, but when it was over I said to myself
'Is that all there is to a circus?'"

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

"Then I fell in love with the most wonderful boy in the world
We would take long walks by the river or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes
We were so very much in love. Then one day, he went away
And I thought I'd die, but I didn't
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 friends
Then let's keep dancing

"I know what you must be saying to yourselves
'If that's the way she feels about it why doesn't she just end it all?'
Oh, no. Not me. I'm in no hurry for that final disappointment
For I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you
When that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath
I'll be saying 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 booze
And have a ball
If that's all there is

Bette Midler is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, comedienne and actress. Named in honor of Bette Davis, Midler’s career began performing off-broadway until she developed the stage persona The Divine Miss M while singing at the world-famous Continental Baths gay bathhouse. A pre-fame Barry Manilow, the venue’s in-house piano player, produced her Grammy-nominated debut album which scored three US top 40 singles including the Grammy-nominated “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. Midler took home the Best New Artist Grammy that year, her first of three career wins.

Throughout the 1970s, Midler found further success with music, Broadway, television and film. The Rose, Midler’s 1979 acting debut, earned her both Oscar and Academy Award nominations, and its namesake song won her a Golden Globe and another Grammy – also giving Midler her first success overseas.

The early 1980s proved less successful for Midler with four under-performing singles and a box office flop with the film Jinxed. However, the second half of the decade would prove far more fruitful with a handful of very successful films including Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune and Beaches, the latter featuring a chart-topping cover of “Wind Beneath My Wings” that won Midler her third Grammy and is considered one of the greatest songs in American film history.

more tracks from the album

Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook

From the album

Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook (2005)

Bette Midler popular songs

Is That All There Is?Bette Midler

Bette Midler

Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook