Life Is a Carnival
The Band
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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
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
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 FeatureThe song "Life Is a Carnival" is the opening track on the Canadian-American group The Band's fourth studio album, titled "Cahoots."
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Release Date"Life Is a Carnival" was released in September 1971 along with rest of the "Cahoots" album.
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Allen Toussaint CollaborationThe renowned New Orleans music figure Allen Toussaint played a significant role in the song as he created the horn arrangement.
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Song WritersThe song was written by all three primary songwriters of The Band: Rick Danko, Levon Helm, and Robbie Robertson.
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Lyrical InterpretationThe 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.
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Live Performances"Life Is a Carnival" was frequently included in The Band's live setlists and features in several of their live albums.
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Singles ChartAlthough "Life Is a Carnival" was released as a single, it did not chart in the US or the UK.
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Recording LocationThe song was recorded at the famous Bearsville Sound Studio in Woodstock, New York.
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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.
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Critics' ReviewCritics have often praised the song's upbeat sound, rich instrumentation, and thought-provoking lyrics.
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Appearance in Film and TelevisionThe song made an appearance in the popular television show "The Sopranos" and was included in the film soundtrack for "In the Land of Women."
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Reissue"Life Is a Carnival" appeared in the 2001 reissue of "Cahoots," which included the song with and without the horn overdubs.
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Music GenreThe 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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Citation
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"Life Is a Carnival Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3998664/The+Band/Life+Is+a+Carnival>.
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