In 2008, da Costa, then 17, released his sixth record; opened for Loretta Lynn and Dan Bern; was profiled in The New York Times; performed at the Kerrville, Falcon Ridge, Philadelphia and Woody Guthrie Folk Festivals; debuted in Europe at Denmark’s Tonder Festival and was nominated as Folk Alliance Emerging Artist of the Year. He also recorded his seventh album with duo partner Abbie Gardner of Red Molly in just three days — a record that made the finals of the Independent Music World Series.
In 2007, da Costa: became the youngest winner ever of Kerrville’s New Folk and Falcon Ridge’s Emerging Artist Competitions; formally showcased at Tin Pan South and was a Mountain Stage NewSong finalist. A prolific songwriter and self-taught, multi-instrumentalist, Anthony’s writing and performing draw from a deep well of rich musical influences — from Bob Dylan and Dan Bern, to Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, to Ryan Adams and John Prine. Now in his fourth year as a touring artist, Anthony is a strict adherent to Zimmerman’s Theory of the Never-Ending Tour, playing perpetually at festivals, theaters, clubs and coffee houses…everywhere.
Says Neil Pearson of Fish Records (UK): “Anthony da Costa — an important, emerging artist — has obvious links to modern day songwriters such as Jonathan Byrd and Dan Bern, but he’s a distinct talent and writer who knows how to connect with his audience in both the live setting and in his recordings. It’s obvious he will be leading a new generation of singer/songwriters in the near future.”
Carnival
Anthony da Costa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are something special, I wanted to bring you something.
I wanna show you that I care with a yo-yo or a stuffed bear.
Cause I've been waitin' on you to let me in.
Cause I went to the carnival and I didn't win.
I've seen it in the movies, yes I've seen it done right.
There's nothing more romantical than a carnival at night.
You know it in her smile that she's havin' fun.
I've seen it in the movies, but I could not get it done.
You don't sound disappointed, but I bet you think I suck.
You can blame it on fate, you can blame it on luck,
You can blame it on me, I can't play skee ball it gets ugly,
but if I could you know I surely would.
You don't sound disappointed, but I bet you think I'm no good
How's a nice moonlight dinner, how's a walk along the sand?
I'd buy you a rainbow, but they're too much in demand.
I could sing you a song, and it might not sound all wrong.
As long as there's no prizes I'm you're man.
Why lose at the carnival when we could kiss between the moon and the sand.
Between the moon and the sand.
The lyrics of Anthony da Costa's song "Carnival" tell the story of a man who is trying to impress a woman he cares about by winning her a prize at the carnival. He wanted to bring her something special, like a yo-yo or a stuffed bear, to show her that he cares for her. However, he failed to win anything for her and seems disappointed. He tries to make it up to her by suggesting a moonlight dinner, a walk along the sand, or a song, but he realizes that he doesn't need to win her anything at the carnival to impress her. They could just be together and enjoy each other's company, without any prizes or games.
The song's first verse is filled with disappointment and regret that he didn't win anything for her, even though he wanted to. He wanted to show her that he cares for her, and he feels like he missed his chance. The chorus emphasizes his regret and disappointment with the repeated line "cause I went to the carnival and I didn't win."
In the second verse, the man shares his observations about how winning a prize at the carnival can impress a woman, but he admits that he couldn't get it done. He tried to knock the milk jugs off the shelf, but he couldn't do it. He feels like he let her down, and he worries that she thinks he sucks.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder that love doesn't need material possessions or grand gestures to be real or meaningful. Sometimes, a simple walk on the beach or a song can be more romantic than any prize won at a carnival.
Line by Line Meaning
I went to the carnival and I didn't win you nothin'.
I wanted to bring you a prize from the carnival to show you how special you are to me, but unfortunately, I didn't win anything.
You are something special, I wanted to bring you something.
You mean a lot to me, and I really wanted to give you a gift.
I wanna show you that I care with a yo-yo or a stuffed bear.
I thought a small carnival prize like a yo-yo or a stuffed bear would be a meaningful way to show you that I care.
Cause I've been waitin' on you to let me in.
I've been hoping to get closer to you and have you let me into your life.
Cause I went to the carnival and I didn't win.
Unfortunately, I didn't win a prize at the carnival that I could give you as a gift.
I've seen it in the movies, yes I've seen it done right.
I've seen romantic scenes at carnivals in movies that looked perfect.
There's nothing more romantical than a carnival at night.
A carnival at night is the perfect setting for a romantic evening.
Knock the milk jugs off the shelf, and she'll love you like no one else.
Winning a carnival game like knocking over milk jugs can impress someone and make them feel loved like no one else could.
You know it in her smile that she's havin' fun.
When someone is genuinely enjoying themselves, you can see the joy in their smile.
I've seen it in the movies, but I could not get it done.
Although I thought I could replicate a romantic carnival date, I failed to make it happen in real life.
You don't sound disappointed, but I bet you think I suck.
You don't seem upset about the lack of a carnival prize, but I imagine you see me as a failure regardless.
You can blame it on fate, you can blame it on luck,
We didn't get a prize at the carnival, but there are various factors that contributed to the outcome.
You can blame it on me, I can't play skee ball it gets ugly,
I'm not good at playing skee ball, and I accept that it's partly my fault that we didn't win anything.
but if I could you know I surely would.
If I had the skills to win a carnival game, I would have done it for you.
You don't sound disappointed, but I bet you think I'm no good
You seem fine with the situation, but I suspect you view me as incompetent.
How's a nice moonlight dinner, how's a walk along the sand?
Instead of going to the carnival, let's try a romantic moonlit dinner or a walk along the sandy beach.
I'd buy you a rainbow, but they're too much in demand.
I would get you the impossible if I could, but even a rainbow is too in-demand for me to provide.
I could sing you a song, and it might not sound all wrong.
I could try to impress you with my musical talents, and it might not be terrible.
As long as there's no prizes I'm you're man.
I may not be good at winning prizes at the carnival, but I'll be there for you regardless.
Why lose at the carnival when we could kiss between the moon and the sand.
Instead of focusing on winning a prize, let's embrace the romantic moment we have here together under the moon and by the sandy beach.
Between the moon and the sand.
The romantic setting we are in, under the light of the full moon, on the sandy beach.
Contributed by Vivian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.