Bruce Springsteen Forum

The Man on the Flying Trapeze
Words and Music by George Leybourne (1868)

Once I was happy but now I'm forlorn,
Like an old coat that is tatter'd and torn,
Left in this wide world to weep and to mourn,
Betray'd by a maid in her teens.

Now the girl that I lov'd she was handsome,
And I tried all I knew her to please,
But I never could please her a quarter so well
As the man on the flying trapeze.

Chorus:
He floats through the air with the greatest of ease,
This daring young man on the flying trapeze.
His movements are graceful, all girls he does please,
And my love he's purloined away.

This young man by name was Signor Bona Slang,
Tall. big and handome… as well made as Chang.
Where 'er he appeared…the hall loudly rang
With ovation from all people there.

He'd smile from the bar on the people below
And one night he smiled on my love.
She wink'd back at him and she shouted “Bravo”.
As he hung by his nose up above.

Chorus:repeat

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

'Twas all no avail, she went there every night
To see him perform on the stage
Which caused her to meet him. How he ran me down
To tell it would take a whole page.

Chorus:repeat

One night I, as usual, went to her dear home,
Found there her mother and father alone.
I asked for my love, and soon 'twas made known
To my horror that she'd run away.

She packed up her boxes, eloped in the night,
With him with the greatest of ease.
From two stories up he had lowered her down
To the ground on his flying trapeze.

Chorus:repeat

Some months after that I went into a hall,
To my surprise I found there on a wall
A bill in red letters which did my heart gall
That she was appearing with him.

He'd taught her gymnastics, and dressed her in tights
To help him to live at his ease.
He'd made her assume a masculine name
And now she goes on the trapeze.

Chorus:
She floats through the air with the greatest of ease,
You'd think her a man on the flying trapeze;
She does all the work while he takes his ease,
And that's what's become of my love.

Jetzt hast du ihm den Mund aber richtig wässrig gemacht!