DARING YOUNG MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE^©

a.k.a. THE MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE

Live 26 Apr 2006 version

Yeah once I was happy, but now I'm forlorn
Like an old coat that's tattered and torn
Left on this world to fret and to mourn
Betrayed by a maid barely out of her teens

The girl that I loved she was handsome
And I tried all I knew her to please
But I just couldn't please her a quarter as well
As the man upon the trapeze

He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease
The daring young man on the flying trapeze
His movements were graceful, all the girls he could please
And my love he's stolen away

Now the young man by name was Signor Bona Slang
He was tall, big and handsome, as well made as Chang -- whoever that is
Wherever he appeared the hall loudly rang
With ovations from all people there

He'd smile from the bar on the people below
And one night he smiled on my love
She winked back at him and she shouted "Bravo!"
As he hung by his nose from above

Her father and mother they were both on my side
And very hard they tried to make her my bride
Her father he sighed and her mother she cried
To see her throw herself away

But it was all no avail, she went there every night
And she throw him bouquets on the stage
It caused him to meet her and how he ran me down
To tell you would take a whole fuckin' page

He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease
The daring young man on the flying trapeze
His movements were graceful, all the girls he could please
And my love he's stolen away
Solo!

Well one night as usual, well I went to her home
And I found there her father and her mother alone
I asked for my love and soon they made known
To my horror that she'd run away

She packed up her boxes, she eloped in the night
With him with the greatest of ease
From her bedroom two stories high, he'd lowered her down
To the ground on that fuckin' trapeze

He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease
The daring young man on the flying trapeze
His movements were graceful, all the girls he could please
And my love he's stolen away

Well some months after this I went to Circus Hall
Now I was greatly surprised to see her there on the wall
A bill with big red letters, my heart did gall
As she was now appearing with him

He'd taught her gymnastics and he dressed her in tights
Just to help him live a life of ease
As I stood there staring up into the lights
There she flew on that flying trapeze

She flies through the air with the greatest of ease
The daring young girl on the flying trapeze
She does all his work while he takes his ease
And my love he's stolen away

He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease
The daring young man on the flying trapeze
His movements were graceful, all the girls he could please
And my love he's stolen away

He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease
The daring young man on the flying trapeze
His movements were graceful, all the girls he could please
And my love he's stolen away

Written by British Music Hall performer George Leybourne who published it in 1867 with music by Gaston Lyle and arranged by Alfred Lee. The lyrics were based on the phenomenal success of French trapeze artist Jules Léotard. It was recorded by Walter O'Keefe in 1934 and Don Redman & His Orchestra in 1936. Also recorded by Eddie Cantor, Burl Ives, Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards, Spike Jones, Ian Whitcomb, Les Paul & Mary Ford.

This song was reported to be rehearsed by Bruce Springsteen with his Seeger Sessions Band on 13 Apr 2006 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ, bridged into THE WISH. Some comments from the people who listened to the rehearsals:

• "The surprise of the day! of the year! It started out as 'The Wish'. We could make out some lyrics. Then all the sudden Bruce shifted directions and went into 'Those Daring Young Men on the Flying Trapeze'. Yes, the song with these lyrics:
  He floats thru the air with the greatest of ease,
  The daring young man on the flying trapeze,
  His actions are graceful, all girls he does please,
  And my love he has stolen away.
  Really incredible! It was a lot of fun and had us all laughing. Some accordion and violin along with it. You never know what Bruce might pull out!" [13 Apr]

Played during the last of the 4 public rehearsal shows for The Seeger Sessions tour -- 26 Apr 2006 at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ. It was the show closer.

The above lyrics refer to Bruce's live 26 Apr 2006 version at the Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ. Check also the original version.

Thanks Ben Karmelich for the lyrics help.