The Fairground

(album: Spiral Staircase - 1969)

Standing alone in the fairground at night
The world racing past on the streets
Only the stars and the headlights of cars
Light the fantasy world while it sleeps
And I looked around but there wasn't a sound
But the cinders under my feet

Candy-floss sticks spelt words on the ground
I tried to read them in vain
Before it was clear the wind blew my hair
And re-phrased the sentence again

I stopped to light my last cigarette
The fair was lit up in its glow
I threw it away but the light seemed to stay
Like 'twere moonlight shining on snow
And I hardly dare breathe
I just couldn't believe
Then the music started to flow

Slowly everything started to move
'Cept me and I stood quite still
Then came a soft cry near the coconut shy
Will you take to ride on the wind

And around and around the big wheel when spinning
Round and around until
I noticed although the fairground was moving
The rest of the world stopped still

It was then that I realised that I'd have to get off
Although I would've much rather stayed
Then with a jolt the wheel came to a halt
And the music started to fade
As the lights went dim my head started to spin
Told myself that I wasn't to blame

Looked at the ground at the candy-floss sticks
Now the message was plain
Behind me the wheel and the fairground were still
And outside it was moving again