Song by
Leiber and Stoller, inspired by the
Thomas Mann story "
Disillusionment" and performed by
Peggy Lee. Almost a
spoken word performance, with only the chorus sung, the singer relates stories about her
life - watching a building burn down, visiting the circus, falling in
love for the first time - and each time she remembers wondering "Is that all there is?". At the end she muses that when she finally takes her last breath, she knows that
death will be as big a
letdown as
everything else has been. The song found renewed popularity during the
punk era.
Is that all there is?
Is that all there is?
If that's all there is, my friend,
Then let's keep dancing.