The Best Of Times Lyrics - La Cage Aux Folles

Cover for La Cage Aux Folles album
La Cage Aux Folles Lyrics
  1. Act 1
  2. Prelude
  3. We Are What We Are
  4. A Little More Mascara
  5. With Anne On My Arm
  6. With You On My Arm
  7. Song On The Sand (La Da Da Da)
  8. La Cage Aux Folles
  9. I Am What I Am
  10. Act 2
  11. Song On The Sand (Reprise)
  12. Maculinity
  13. Look Over There
  14. Cocktail Counterpoint
  15. The Best Of Times
  16. Look Over There (Reprise)
  17. The Finale

The Best Of Times Lyrics

The Best Of Times

Albin:
This is a little song,
Nostalgic and unique-eh!
I learned to sing this song before I learned to speak-eh!
I learned to sing this song
Upon my mother's knee,
And she learned to sing this song
Upon her mother's knee,
And her mother learned this song
Upon her mother's knee,
And if your mother sang that little song to you,
Then sing along with me.

The best of times is now.
What's left of Summer
But a faded rose?
The best of times is now.
As for tomorrow,
Well, who knows? Who knows? Who knows?
So hold this moment fast,
And live and love
As hard as you know how.
And make this moment last
Because the best of times is now,
Is now, is now.
Now, not some forgotten yesterday.
Now, tomorrow is too far away.
So hold this moment fast,
And live and love
As hard as you know how.
And make this moment last,
Because the best of times is now,
Is now, is now.
Albin, Jacqueline:
The best of times is now.
What's left of summer
But a faded rose?
The best of times is now.
As for tomorrow,
Well, who knows? Who knows? Who knows?
So hold this moment fast,
And live and love
As hard as you know how.
And make this moment last,
Because the best of times is now,

Albin:
Is now,
Angelique:
Is now, is now is now, is now.
Albin, Jacqueline:
Now!
Tabarro:
Now!
Albin, Jacqueline:
Not some forgotten yesterday
Pepe:
Yesterday!
Albin, Jacqueline:
Now!
Babette:
Now!
Albin, Jacqueline:
Tomorrow is too far away.
M. Renaud, Waiters:
So hold this moment fast,
And live and love
As hard as you know how.
Female Singers:
And make this moment last,
Because the best of times is now,
Is now, is now

All:
The best of times is now.
What's left of Summer
But a faded rose?
The best of times is now.
As for tomorrow,
Well, who knows? Who knows? Who knows?
So hold this moment fast,
And live and love
As hard as you know how.
And make this moment last
Because the best of times is now,
Is now, is now.
Now, not some forgotten yesterday.
Now, tomorrow is too far away.
So hold this moment fast,
And live and love
As hard as you know how.
And make this moment last,
Because the best of times is now, is now.
So hold this moment fast,
And live and love
As hard as you know how.
And make this moment last,
Because the best of times is now,
Is now, is now
Is now, is NOW!



Song Overview

Screenshot from The Best of Times lyrics video by Jerry Herman
Jerry Herman is singing the 'The Best of Times' lyrics in the music video.

Song Credits

  • Artist: Jerry Herman
  • Featuring: Elizabeth Parrish & George Hearn
  • Producer: Thomas Z. Shepard
  • Writer: Jerry Herman
  • Album: La Cage Aux Folles (Original Cast Recording)
  • Track Number: 12
  • Release Year: 1983
  • Genre: Musical Theatre
  • Language: English
  • Copyrights © 1983 RCA Victor

Song Meaning and Annotations

Jerry Herman performing song The Best of Times
Performance in the music video.

“The Best of Times” by Jerry Herman is the champagne toast of La Cage Aux Folles. It bursts with effervescence, but there's a hint of wistfulness underneath the sparkle — like a party thrown in defiance of sorrow. Sung in the face of uncertainty, this number is a communal anthem, a gentle reminder that right now — not yesterday, not maybe-someday — is all we really have.

Carpe Diem, in Cabaret Shoes

The best of times is now / What's left of summer but a faded rose?

That metaphor — the “faded rose” — perfectly captures how quickly beauty, youth, love, or summer can wilt. But rather than mourn, the lyrics choose celebration. It's not about clinging to the past, but about savoring the moment like a sip of good wine.

A Musical Philosophy

There’s no dense plot twist or philosophical puzzle here. Just truth, wrapped in melody. It's advice passed down in song form:

So hold this moment fast / And live and love as hard as you know how

The lines are simple, but there's a reason they linger. They come from a place of earned wisdom. In a story about chosen family, drag artistry, and love that doesn't fit society’s mold, this refrain hits even harder. These aren't just general musings — they're survival tactics. Carpe Diem, but with glitter.

Collective Joy

This isn’t a solo number. It’s designed as a chorus — a unifier. Whether sung on stage, at a wedding, or in a small club at 2 a.m., it brings people together. That repetition —

The best of times is now, is now, is now

— drives the point home like a mantra. If “I Am What I Am” is the defiant solo, “The Best of Times” is the group hug that follows.

Similar Songs

Thumbnail from The Best of Times lyric video by Jerry Herman
A screenshot from the 'The Best of Times' music video.
  1. “Seasons of Love” by the Cast of RENT
    Both songs use time as a central metaphor — a reminder that life is fleeting. “Seasons of Love” measures it in love and community, much like “The Best of Times.” The emotional arc is similar: hope, grounded in reality.
  2. “Put On a Happy Face” from Bye Bye Birdie
    Though lighter and more comedic, this song also rallies against gloom. It encourages joy as resistance, just as Jerry Herman does. The tone is different, but the heartbeat is the same.
  3. “Thank You for the Music” by ABBA
    Another track that acknowledges the passage of time while celebrating joy. Both songs walk the line between nostalgia and exuberance, using song as both escape and embrace.

Questions and Answers

Scene from The Best of Times track by Jerry Herman
Visual effects scene from 'The Best of Times'.
What is the central message of “The Best of Times”?
It’s a reminder to live fully in the present. The song encourages embracing life’s fleeting joys instead of worrying about an uncertain future or clinging to a nostalgic past.
Why does the song mention a “faded rose”?
The faded rose symbolizes how beauty and good times can wither. It's a poetic way of saying: don’t wait, because everything lovely is temporary.
Is this a solo or ensemble number in the musical?
It’s a group number, led by characters like Albin and Jacqueline, designed to be uplifting and inclusive — often performed with the full cast and lots of audience engagement.
How does this song fit into the story of La Cage Aux Folles?
It acts as an emotional balm during a moment of tension, helping the characters — and the audience — reset and remember what really matters: love, connection, and celebration.
Has this song been used outside of the musical?
Yes. It’s often used in cabarets, LGBTQ+ events, and even weddings. Its message of seizing joy resonates far beyond the proscenium arch.

Fan and Media Reactions

"This is the kind of song that makes you want to dance and cry at the same time." – YouTube user: StageDoorSoul
"Every Pride event should end with this. It’s joy in its purest form." – YouTube user: LavishDramaQueen
"When George Hearn hits that final ‘is now’? Instant serotonin." – YouTube user: CurtainCallMeMaybe
"It’s so simple, yet so life-affirming. This song should be a mantra for 2025." – YouTube user: Heartstrings72
"Jerry Herman knew how to write for the heart. And this one lands right in the center." – YouTube user: MusicalRealist

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