Songs about circus performers, fairs, carnivals

Subject: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 11:29 PM

GUEST reggie miles prompted this one.
"I've been amassing a set of songs about circus sideshow characters. "The Bearded Lady", "The Tattooed Lady", "Snake Charmin' Baby", etc. I think "Sawing A Woman In Half" could fit in this bunch as well, and I can do a fair rendition of "The Man On The Flying Trapeze" on my musical saw. I figure I'll have a pretty good set list together by the time I get ready to run away from home and join the circus. Would you like me to guess your weight?"


A search on "circus" revealed only a couple of songs in the DT, and far too many messages to explore on chance....

so I'll start the list

The Man On The Flying Trapeze - 2 entries in DT
The Bearded Lady
The Tattooed Lady
Snake Charmin' Baby
Sawing A Woman In Half

Brother Gorilla
Wall Of Death

Robin

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 11:30 PM

Now that's annoying I thought I changed teh thread name to be what I really wanted, but it looks like you don't get a second chance... :-)

Robin

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 11:47 PM

oops forgot

Cosmo
- The Fairly Accurate Knife Thrower
by Les Barker

Subject: Re: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 11:54 PM

Roseville Fair
is about fairs/fetes/carnivals/show, etc

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 12:07 AM

The Thread

Circus Music

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 12:38 AM

Hi foolestroup...

How's about a song I wrote 5 years ago? Based on a coupla scenes in Wim Wenders's "The Wings of Desire"... and a sorely broken heart of my own...

Circus Song

I went out late, full moon delight
Tripped over a tent stake, limped into the night
Silvery beams, they guide me
Carnival dreams, still chide me... and blind me

Chorus;
Born to a smile, these road shows sure can bring me down
Innocent child, returns to the tears of a clown
Circus song, it haunts me,
Even though, the greatest show... is gone

These empty fields, in dim silver sheen
Where the dreams unsealed, three rings between
Footpaths in turf, they guide me
The once festive air, still chides me... and rewinds me

Chorus

Found myself again, talking of you
To a midnight friend, ticket stubs for two
Lonely hearts, they guide me
Cupid's darts still chide me... and find me

Chorus

Recorded in '99 ttr

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: musicmick
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 12:58 AM

I assume that someone, by now, has suggested "Lydia, the Tatooed Lady"
It was sung by Groucho Marx in the movie "At The Circus".
Another song that fits yoyr needs would be "We're Off To See The Wild West Show". That one, which is an olio of jokes and choruses, has as many verses as you can think of funny animal two liners.

         Mike Miller

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: Nerd
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 02:26 AM

Mick Ryan has one called "Willy Worrell" about a whole group of sideshow performers, but I haven't got the lyrics available.

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: Larkin
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 04:33 AM

The Rawtenstall annual Fair contains losts of sideshow stuff. I'm sure it's in the DT
Martin

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: GUEST,cranky yankee
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 05:25 AM

Fie upon you music mic, That's exactly what I was going to say. Soooo, Here's a verse to the Wild West Show as Roger Sprung and I used to do at the Black Pearl Tavern back in the late 60's.

" Now I do admit, Ladies and Gentlemen, that seeing a Dolphin swimming around with a Maynah Bird on his back deserves an explanation. You see, the Dolphin belonged to a school that didn't like the way we were running things and had decided to take over the world. They found a Maynah bird, that could speak English as well as Dolphinese, to spy for them.
This Nefarious Maynah, on behalf of those immoral cetaceans, attached himself to a Professor of Mathmatics at the local university. One day as part of the Maynah's education, the professor took him to the local zoo. Now then, being a mathematician, the prof knew that the shortest distance between two points (pronounced, "Pernts") is a straight line, instead of walking around the cages, he, clutching the Maynah to his breast, hopped over the fence of the lions cage, ran across the lion's backs amd skipped over the other fence into the arms of a waiting policeman who arrested him for
CARRYING A MAYNAH ACROSS STATE LIONS FOR IMMORAL PORPOISES"

Oh we're off to see the wild west show, etc

                                                    '

So there!!!!!

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:45 AM

I recall Bill Caddick, Tm Laycock and Pete Bond (who turned up after many years off the scene at this years Towersey) toured a show called "A Duck on his Head" some years ago, about such characters (or it may have been vaudeville but there would have been some crossover between that and circus). An LP as well IIRC but I think that was on the Trailer label so is probably buried somewhere.

Sorry I can't recall more details but it may prompt others.

Also, although not directly about the Sideshow characters, JohnTams' "Pull down lads" is about circus/fairground workers.

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: GUEST,billyboy
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 09:53 AM

bruce springsteen's Wild Billy's Circus Story

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 10:58 AM

TIGER BY THE TAIL (parody, Homer & Jethro)

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: Tig
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 01:05 PM

We've got a copy of Duck on his Head - a brilliant show which we were lucky enough to catch up at Durham. Bill Caddick still does some of the songs from it.

PM me if I can help.

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: Mark Ross
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 01:27 PM

Then there is "Haywire Mac" McClintock's CIRCUS DAYS.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Songs about Circus Sideshow Characters
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 03:32 PM

Mark Knopfler has a great song on 2002 album The Ragpicker's Dream called Devil Baby.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 02:12 PM

What about Elvira Madigan

...Elvira wa a circus girl who walked the tightrope bravely

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 04:54 AM

Tig - if you can find A Duck on His Head, I would like to borrow it for a listen some time.
Quack!
Geoff.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Charley Noble
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 04:45 PM

A couple of keepers seem to be missing:

Before They Close the Minstrel Show

Don't Go in the Lion's Cage

Brockie Lads by Jez Lowe

These should be posted in the DT but if you have trouble finding lyrics I'll be happy to post them.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 02:04 PM

Oh, she was an acrobats daughter
She hung by her teeth by a noose
One fatal day
Her bridgework gave way
and she flew through the air like a goose.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: songs2play
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 02:49 AM

Ralph McTell's Clown has always been a favorite of mine.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 05:00 PM

Mark Knopfler's 'Tunnel of Love' is about the Spanish City, a huge fairground which used to be at Whitley Bay.

Bert Jansch's 'When the Circus Comes to Town' is actually about crack cocaine dealing but you'd never know.

Jackson C Frank's 'Carnival' is about...who knows really?...but a great song.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 08:25 PM

Good Stuff, people, keep it coming.

Please post songs (other than tiny fragments) in their own thread (titled Lyr Add: 'Song name' etc) and cross refer to it here.

Robin

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Padre
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 11:36 PM

What about 'The Animal Fair"

I went to the animal fair,
The birds and the beasts were there,
The big baboon, by the light of the moon,
Was combing his auburn hair.
The monkey he got drunk,
Climbed up the elephant's trunk,
The elephant sneezed, and fell to his knees,
And that was the end of the monk (ad infinitum)

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 27 Sep 03 - 01:13 PM

How about 'Nellie the Elephant'?

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: musicmick
Date: 28 Sep 03 - 01:24 AM

I would like to commend Cranky Yankee for unearthing the only clean verse for "We're Off To See The Wild West Show". Most were along the lines of....

Step, right up, ladies and gentlemen and cast your eyes upon that most remarkable animal, the laughing hyena. The laughing hyena urinates but four times each year, deficates but twice per year and copulates only once every year.
What's that you say, sir? Why is he laughing? Because tonight's the night!

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 06:20 PM

Punchinello

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Gareth
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 07:12 PM

Well musicmic has the Wild West Show off to a T'

But on a more serious note perhaps somebody could post the word to the "Seekers" _ " The Carnival is over" which is an appropriate song.

Personally, and despite parodys involving the "Blue Screen of Death" this one is very appropriate.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Gareth
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 07:14 PM

Hmmm ! GOK wot went wrong Blicky again

Click 'Ere

Gareth

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Hrothgar
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 10:10 PM

There is always Bernard Bolan's little gem about "The Campbelltown and District Vilklage Fete."

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 08:09 AM

Hey musicmic...Yes I used to sing the wildwest show on the rugby coach....when I was much younger of course.
My favourite verse was the one about:- Roll up...roll...up ladies and gentlemen and see the Red Pepper Bird.......Eats red peppers......drinks red peppers...and flies backwards to keep its a... cool!
Best wishes all

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: fogie
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 05:40 AM

The Rowtenstall annual fair springs to mind -should be in the DT
Its got lots of Roll up Roll ups in it like a saucy seaside postcard!
- might be Rottenstall?

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: fogie
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 05:59 AM

Damn it I cant find it!
Someone ought to post it- I cant remember how it starts-

Roll up rollup see the house of mystery,
Ladies pay a tanner to be tickled in the dark,
In went the lads -just for a peep '
the showman pulled a lever and we landed in a heap,
Down he shot em right to the bottom,
frills and balls for everyone to see,
there were shouting, screaming, everything were right,
I saw some funny things Ive never seen in all me life,
I even saw some things I've never seen upon the wife'
at the Rowtenstall annual fair.

Roll up Roll up come and see the mermaid,
see the lovely lady half a woman half a fish,
In went the lads to show it wasnt swank
an little willie higgins put some whisky in the tank,
She got frisky swimmin in the whisky,and when she cum up for air,she bowed to the audience ,gave ger tail a swish,
her tail it come off and she really looked delish,
she says what de yer fancy lads a bit o meat or fish
at the Rowtenstall annual fair.

Roll up roll up come and see the fat girl
40 stone of lovelyness and every bit her own
EEh she were a bigg un we accent on the big,
an all the fellas wi walking sticks kept givin her a dig,
She were a right big lassie, I didnt know her chassee'
were blown up with air I do declare,
Every thing was champion until some silly clown,
poked her with a pin said the showman with a frown,
all hands to the pumps lads me vessels going down,
at the Rowtenstall annual fair.

Roll up roll up see the tattooed lady,
See the lovely lady with the pictures on her skin,
in went the lads ,and they began to cheer,
for spread out on her back were all the towns of Lancashire'
There were Odsall bottom ? Lancaster city, the town hall standing in the square,
there were Oldham, Bolton, Ashton under Lyme,
Coalpit down in Burnley were lookin mighty fine
When some one shouted Daddy- dont go down the mine
at the Rowtenstall Annual fair

Hope most of it is there in some order- reminds me of the Beano.
hope you like it- I think I heard it on an Oldham Tinkers CD years ago.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Kevin Sheils
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 06:04 AM

yes it's in the DT here fogie, very slight misremembering by you as it's Rawtenstall but an impressive remembering nonetheless.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Rain Dog
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 10:49 AM

A couple of Tom Waits songs

Eyeball Kid

Tabletop Joe

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: GUEST,Crystal
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 01:31 PM

Theres a song about a lion tamer sung from the point of view of the lion. Unfortunatly I'm not 100% sure of the title (or the lyrics), I think it is "Captain 'Bloody' Valient". It's a great song though

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: LindsayInWales
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 01:37 PM

"Pull Down Lads" sung by June Tabor on her "Airs And Graces" Album.
"The Day That The Circus Left Town" sung by Eartha Kitt in the 50s/60s
"The Man On The Flying Trapeze" (got a 30s recording by Henry Hall)
"I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts" (got a Billy Cotton Version)

"I Left My Heart At The Stage Door Canteen" (World War II Song)
"Algy The Picadilly Johnny" (music-hall song)

"Roundabout" by Allan Smethurst (The Singing Postman)

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 03:41 PM

Leo Sayer's "Show must go on"
Beatles "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite"
Day Davies (Kinks) "Death of a Clown"

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 04:35 PM

Fakenham Fair- Jim Eldon does it

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 07:00 AM

Well you can find "Captain Valiant" from "A Duck on his Head" here.

Does anyone have the monologue about "Senor Polone" the indarubber man ? He's in love with the beautiful trapeze artist, but she ignores him until one day she falls and he spreads himself out underneath her - then:

With a smack like the sound of wet fish on a slab
On Senor Polone she landed.
Then she bounced right back up to the top of the tent,
And caught the trapeze single-handed.

After that she marries him and they have some bouncing babies.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 07:12 AM

Found it !

THE INDIA RUBBER MAN
by Warren Hastings and Herberte Jordan (1943)

This is the story of Senor Poloney,
The India Rubber Man,
Who worked in a side-show attached to a circus,
And lived in an old caravan.

In manner most charming, if somewhat alarming
He'd knot both his legs round his middle,
Then tie his big toes to the end of his nose,
And play "The Lost Chord" on a fiddle.

This genteel performance was greatly admired,
By people who came in their dozens;
Some bringing their gals, their wives, or their pals,
Their uncles, their aunts and their cousins.

Now Senor Poloney was madly in love
With a young lady known as "La Swallow"
Whose breathless performance upon the trapeze
Was a dangerous calling to follow.

Alas! Though Poloney "La Swallow" adored,
She did not return his affection.
There can be no doubt she was never without
Of boy-friends a goodly collection.

Whenever Poloney could wrangle the time,
He'd wander inside the arena.
To gaze on "La Swallow" with love-stricken eyes
Feeling better because he had seen her.

One day when "La Swallow" was doing her stuff,
She suddenly missed her connection.
From high in the air, with a wail of despair,
She fell in a downward direction.

The welkin then rang with the horrified cries
Of the crowd; thereby causing a ruction.
As frantic with awe, the young lady they saw
Being hurtled to death and destruction.

Then just like a ferret who'd sat on a tack,
Poloney, his eyes fairly popping,
Dashed out with a shout and threw himself down
On the spot where "La Swallow" was dropping.

The smack was the same as wet fish on a slab
As on poor Poloney she landed.
Then bounced up again to the top of the tent
And caught the trapeze single handed.

So Poloney the hero and lovely "La Swallow"
Were wed, and there's little to add.
But two bouncing babies are learning the fiddle,
To play "The Lost Chord" like their dad.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: GUEST,ken johnson
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 07:39 AM

what about Lester Simpson's fairground attraction
ps geoff if you want a tape of "a duck on his head2 i can do you one and bring it to moron coast    Ken

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: GUEST,Abi
Date: 12 May 04 - 12:16 PM

There is indeed a song called "Captain Bloody Valiant" that is sung from the point of view of the lion, about the lion tamer. It's absolutely ace. In fact, I witnessed it sung this weekend by a wonderful elderly lady with a stunning voice, at a singaround at Holmfirth Folk Music Festival. She also sang it last year, and having spent all year going on to my brother about how brilliant it was, when she turned up this year, I asked her to do it again, and recorded a scratchy copy on my mobile phone.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: GUEST,Larry K
Date: 12 May 04 - 02:59 PM

Of course there is the Broadway show "Barum" which has several circus songs including "join the circus".    I also think of Tears of a Clown by Smokey.   Richard Thompson has one about a high wire person named "valerio"   (not sure about the spelling)   There is the Peter Allen song "Don't cry out loud" which starts "baby cried the day the circus came to town" and has a lot of other circus references.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 May 04 - 03:28 PM

Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis...the World's Fair.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: GUEST,earthling
Date: 12 May 04 - 08:36 PM

Circus of Heaven by   YES.

Stardust by   DAVID ESSEX.

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 May 04 - 10:05 PM

Crosslink - Circus Music

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 May 04 - 08:29 PM

Fortune Tellers

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: Pogo
Date: 28 May 04 - 09:29 PM

The Juggler by Fionna Something...can't recall the singer's last name she's an Irish singer that's all I recall. Rather haunting song but very good

Subject: RE: Songs - Circus/Show/Fetes Characters/Themes
From: GUEST,Pissed
Date: 15 Jun 09 - 09:15 PM

Don't you ever misquote Daffy Duck again. It's one matinee, not fatal day. Also, it's "she swung BY her teeth FROM a noose. Sheesh.