Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage
by Peter Allen

Album: Taught By Experts (1976)
Play Video
  • Quiet please, there's a lady on stage
    She may not be the latest rage
    But she's singing and she means it
    And she deserves a little silence

    Quiet please, there's a woman up there
    And she's been honest through her songs
    Long before your consciousness was raised
    Now doesn't that deserve a little praise

    So put your hands together and help her along
    All that's left of the singer's all that's left of the song
    Stand for the ovation
    And give her one last celebration

    Quiet please, there's a person up there
    Who's singing of the things
    That none of us could bear to hear for ourselves
    Give her your respect if nothing else

    Put your hands together and help her along
    All that's left of the singer's all that's left of the song
    Rise to the occasion
    Give her one last celebration

    Quiet please, there's a lady on stage
    Conductor, turn the final page
    When it's over we can all go home
    She lives on, on the stage alone

    So put your hands together, help her along
    All that's left of the singer's all that's left of the song
    Stand for the ovation
    And give her one last celebration

    Put your hands together and help her along
    All that's left of the singer's all that's left of the song
    Rise for the ovation
    Give her one last celebration

    Put your hands together, help her along
    All that's left of the singer's all that's left of the song

    Put your hands together, help her along
    All that's left of the singer's all that's left of the song
    Stand for the ovation
    And won't you give her one last celebration?

    Put your hands together and help her along
    Let's just stay here all night and let's sing every song
    Won't you rise to the occasion?
    And won't you give her one last celebration?

    Put your hands together, help her along
    All that's left of the singer's all that's left of the song
    Stand, stand for the ovation
    Yes, give her one last, just one last celebration

    Come on, put your hands together, won't you help her along?
    Let's just stay here all night and sing every song
    Won't you rise? Can you rise to the occasion?
    And give her, a just one last, one last celebration? Writer/s: CAROLE BAYER SAGER, PETER W. ALLEN
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • AnonymousSong for Judy Garland indeed , Peter Allen said it at his concert, I was there
  • David from U.s.a.Matt is correct. Go to YouTube and find Peter Allen and the Rockettes 1981 show at Radio City and you'll see and hear Peter introduce the song saying he wrote it for his mother in law, Judy Garland.
  • Matt from Brisbane, AustraliaPeter Allen wrote Quiet Please for a TV special on Judy Garland, so it is indeed about her. The Julie Wilson story is correct in that Peter was at a performance of hers and did write a note that read "Quiet please there is a lady on stage".. later when he was writing the song for Judy he decided it was a great song title and used it. I think the song is Peter paying homage to a women he loved dearly and all those others out there that didn't quite make it.
  • Richard from New York, NyOn his Carnegie Hall live CD, Peter intros this song as "the only song written for an ex-mother-in-law who's worked here". Judy Garland, no?
  • Sara from Silver Spring, MdPeter Allen never performed shows in drag! It's a shame not to many people were aware of who he was. He was the guy whom Hugh Jackman portrayed in THE BOY FROM OZ on Broadway (in the show the song is sung by Peter and company after he tells Liza the news of her mother's tragic death.
    It is on an album called Taught By Experts which has not yet been on CD though many of the songs have including the international hit I Go to Rio.
  • Rick from Columbus, GaI'd heard he wrote this for himself when he did shows in drag. The Judy Garland thing makes sense, too, though.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne

Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of WayneSongwriter Interviews

The guy who brought us "Stacy's Mom" also wrote the Jane Lynch Emmy song and Stephen Colbert's Christmas songs.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Matt Sorum

Matt SorumSongwriter Interviews

When he joined Guns N' Roses in 1990, Matt helped them craft an orchestral sound; his mezzo fortes and pianissimos are all over "November Rain."

Songfacts® Newsletter

A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs

Information

Follow Us

Contribution

©2026 Songfacts, LLC