If I Can't Take it with Me

If I can’t take it with me when I go Then I ain’t going, no no no If I can’t take it with me when I go I’m staying and I’ll tell the Reaper so When he comes by with his great big sickle Saying 'Drop everything and mount my motorcycle' I’ll say 'I ain’t riding pillion with you Unless I can take a million or two So shove your scythe right up your cloak I ain’t heading for the afterlife stony broke' If I can’t take it with me when I leave I ain’t going you’d better believe If I can’t take it with me when I leave Old Grim’s gonna have to give me a reprieve When he drives up in his old black hearse I’ll tell him to shove that crate in reverse The only way I’m leaving this scene’s In a fully-optioned double-stretched limousine I’m sure that in Paradise or in Hades You need a big rig to pull the ladies So Mr Reaper Man don’t push a retirement plan That requires me to give my all away I’m keeping every cent under my own management Til the trumpet blows on Judgement day You can rant and bluster but I tell you Buster If I can't take it with me then I’m here to stay If I can’t take it with me when I quit Then I’m not making an exit If I can’t take it with me when I quit The Smoke in the Cloak can lump it or split I don’t care how many rules he quotes I'm not leaving here burning all of my boats The adage that 'In death we’re all the same' Is just a part of an old con game I’ll bet that in Heaven or in Hell You need real wealth to live real well