[Track Info] [The Lyrics] [Explanation]
01. 7" version (04:22)
02. Full version (05:38)
03. Live (Montreal, Canada - "The Spectrum", June 19/20th '84) (05:47)
Notes: 1), compared to 2), lacks the first strophe and has
an early fading end. 3) follows full studio version, with a longer instrumental part
before the verses "Welcome back to the circus".
Lyrics by Derek William Dick (Fish)
Performed Live for the first Time: May 1st 1984
Published by Marillion Music, Charisma Music Publishing Co. Ltd., Chappell Music Ltd.
On the rebound, fumbling all the lines
The light at the end of the bottle - alcoholicalphabet
Through the looking glass the proof in my own reflection
Five senses down and reeling on the Cinderella search
On the rebound, fumbling all the lines
Decay on the vertical hold with a horizontal aim
Conversation needs translation
Three dimensions down dissolving on the Cinderella search, Cinderella search
On the rebound, fumbling all the lines
Dreaming bartenders, bourbon and saxophone,
Out of luck, out of charm, out the game of rejections in a cigarette city
Only courting the homing of direction on the Cinderella search,
Cinderella search
But the Samaritan of the heartbroken, heartbroken,
Swam through the nicotine seize, and we exchanged the kiss of life
Resurrection in a trance, the model, the Grail, in a Marquee of
promises
I touched the dream, I hold the dream, I have the dream
To end the Cinderella search, Cinderella search, oh nomore, nomore!
Exposing bedside manners on a work extension
Awaiting development with paranoid Polaroid eyes, Polaroid eyes
The footman memorised the number
But the prince still holds both the slippers
And would you leave a palace for a bedsit
And Canterbury Tales, Canterbury Tales?
Maybe it was infatuation or the thrill of the chase
Maybe you were always beyond my reach and my heart was playing safe
But was that love in your eye I saw or the reflection of mine?
I'll never really know for sure, you never really gave me time
Give me time, won't you give me that time!
Welcome back to the circus
Welcome back to the circus
Welcome back to the circus
I always use the cue sheets but never the nets
Always the cue sheets but never the nets,
Never the nets, never the nets,
nevertheless, nevertheless, nevertheless, nevertheless, nevertheless,
Welcome back to the circus!
Copyright © 1997 Fraser Marshall, Matthew Anderson & Bert ter
Steege.
Torch said: Gorgeous little summery song about going on the pull...? "On the rebound" and constantly getting rejected, our hero "forgives rejections in cigarette city" as he survives constant disappointments whilst he has a drink and a ciggie to hand. He is pretty much always four parts pissed..."five dimensions down and reeling...three dimensions down,dissolving..." and so "fumbles all the lines. However there is always a "light at the end of the bottle." I assume the "alcoholic alphabet" is the letters at the end of a bottle written in the glass? Not too sure about the "horizontal conversation" bit, but after that magical guitar solo, things look up for our roue as a lady shows an interest in him, the "samaritan of the heartbroken..." and in the "marquee of promises" which HAS to be the Marquee Club, Fish's favourite drinking den, he "touches the dream to end the Cinderells Search..." Presumably the next bit is him in expectation of a bit of carnal knowledge: "work extension...?" Suppose this is because his hunts are almost a trade now and this time he's "on the job" a little longer than usual, on overtime so to speak. BUT!!! "The footman memorized the number but the prince still holds both the slippers, and would you leave a palace for a bedsit in Canterbury Tales?" In imagery from the fairy story, he the lowly footman has remembered the size of the slipper that will fit Cinders, but the Prince still has the thing that will win her over, and she would never reject riches for his life of poetic debauchery! "Raped and still forlorn" our hero bitterly consoles himself by insisting it was maybe just "infatuation or the thrill of the chase", although he was a little in love with her perhaps..."was that love in you eye I saw, or the reflection of mine?" But she never "gave him the time" to find out(BITCH!) and so it's "welcome back to the circus!", that is, back to bar room sharking for wenches. He cheerfully reminds us he "always uses the cue sheets but never the nets!", perhaps meaning he always needs a prompt when he is about to act, but never worries if he fails, as he always survives without a safety new.
'Marquee'
Famous, intimate London venue and drinking den, then in Charing Cross Road, now
sadly defunct. The marquee residencies helped launch the career of many British Bands,
including Dire Straits, Queen etc. The video for incommunicado was shot there, and the
cover features the frontage. (Cp. Incommunicado)
'Canterbury tales'
The Canterbury Tales were written by Geoffrey Chaucer. Brewers: Chaucer represented
that he was in the company with a party of pilgrims going to pay their devotions at the
shrine of Thomas Beckett. The party assembled at the Tabbard Inn Southwark, London, and
there agreed to tell one tale each, both in going and returning. He who told the best tale
was to be rewarded with a supper on the return journey. The work is incomplete, and we
have none of the tales told on the way home.
Sources
Last Modified: 27 Jul 2000