A mongoose can smile at a cobra But that cobra will always be a snake Diamante can shine like a diamond But you know, like I know That rock will be fake It's the real thing The real thing Nothing but the real thing It's real You can xerox the Mona Lisa Deadpan Da Vinci in every detail Might beat customs on a home-made visa But false papers Only gets you in jail It's the real thing The real thing Nothing but the real thing It's real Life wears a smile on its face But it comes with a sting in its tail Make believe fables have their place But only a fool. Only a fool Believes fairy tales I heard all the lies that they tell ya "Phone me baby. The cheque's in the mail" Well as fantasy. It may please ya As the real thing It does nothing but fail It's the real thing The real thing Nothing but the real thing It's real It's the real thing The real thing Nothing but the real thing It's real