Life Is a Carnival

The Band

About Life Is a Carnival

"Life is a Carnival" is the opening track of the Band's fourth album, Cahoots. Written by Rick Danko, Levon Helm, and Robbie Robertson, the song features horn arrangements by New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint. The song is the only track from the Cahoots album included on the original releases of Rock of Ages and The Last Waltz. The song was featured in the Bill Murray movie Larger Than Life. Musical notation for this song is printed on a wall behind Levon Helm's grave in Woodstock, New York.  


Year:
1989
3:58
97 
#1

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You can walk on the water, drown in the sand
You can fly off a mountaintop if anybody can
Run away, run away, it's the restless age
Look away, look away, you can turn the page
Hey, buddy, would you like to buy a watch real cheap
Here on the street
I got six on each arm and two more round my feet
Life is a carnival, believe it or not
Life is a carnival, two bits a shot

Saw a man with the jinx in the third degree
From trying to deal with people, people you can't see
Take away, take away, this house of mirrors
Give away, give away, all the souvenirs
We're all in the same boat ready to float off the edge of the world
The flat old world
The street is a sideshow from the peddler to the corner girl
Life is a carnival, it's in the book
Life is a carnival, take another look

Hey, buddy, would you like to buy a watch real cheap
Here on the street
I got six on each arm and two more round my feet
Life is a carnival, believe it or not
Life is a carnival, two bits a shot

Life is a carnival
Life is a carnival
Life is a carnival

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The Band

The Band were a Canadian-American roots rock group that originally consisted of Rick Danko (bass guitar, double bass, fiddle, trombone, vocals), Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, guitar, vocals), Garth Hudson (keyboard instruments, saxophones, trumpet), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, baritone saxophone, vocals) and Robbie Robertson (guitar, vocals). The members of the Band first came together as they joined rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins's backing group, The Hawks, one by one between 1958 and 1963. more »

9 fans

Written by: Mark Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Album Feature
The song "Life Is a Carnival" is the opening track on the Canadian-American group The Band's fourth studio album, titled "Cahoots."
Release Date
"Life Is a Carnival" was released in September 1971 along with rest of the "Cahoots" album.
Allen Toussaint Collaboration
The renowned New Orleans music figure Allen Toussaint played a significant role in the song as he created the horn arrangement.
Song Writers
The song was written by all three primary songwriters of The Band: Rick Danko, Levon Helm, and Robbie Robertson.
Lyrical Interpretation
The lyrics are often interpreted as a comment on the struggles and surprises of life, with the metaphor of a carnival representing life's unpredictability and joy.
Live Performances
"Life Is a Carnival" was frequently included in The Band's live setlists and features in several of their live albums.
Singles Chart
Although "Life Is a Carnival" was released as a single, it did not chart in the US or the UK.
Recording Location
The song was recorded at the famous Bearsville Sound Studio in Woodstock, New York.
Cover Versions
"Life Is a Carnival" has been covered by different artists across genres, such as New Orleans' funk band The Meters and blues legend Eric Clapton.
Critics' Review
Critics have often praised the song's upbeat sound, rich instrumentation, and thought-provoking lyrics.
Appearance in Film and Television
The song made an appearance in the popular television show "The Sopranos" and was included in the film soundtrack for "In the Land of Women."
Reissue
"Life Is a Carnival" appeared in the 2001 reissue of "Cahoots," which included the song with and without the horn overdubs.
Music Genre
The song is characterized by its blend of American roots music with elements of rock and roll, forming a genre often referred to as Americana or roots rock.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1971

    Billboard #72


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