04-The Carnival is Over
Dead Can Dance Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Outside
The storm clouds gathering,
Moved silently along the dusty boulevard.
Where flowers turning crane their fragile necks
So they can in turn
Reach up and kiss the sky.

They are driven by a strange desire
Unseen by the human eye
Someone is calling.

I remember when you held my hand
In the park we would play when the circus came to town.
Look! Over here.

Outside
The circus gathering
Moved silently along the rainswept boulevard.
The procession moved on the shouting is over
The fabulous freaks are leaving town.

They are driven by a strange desire
Unseen by the human eye.
The carnival is over

We sat and watched




As the moon rose again
For the very first time.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dead Can Dance's song "The Carnival Is Over" are melancholic and seem to be depicting the end of something magical and fantastical. The first two verses describe a storm gathering and flowers reaching up to the sky, which feels like a metaphor for heightened emotions and anticipation. The chorus emphasizes the strange desire driving the carnival and how it is unseen by the human eye. The verse about remembering holding hands in the park during the circus's visit implies a bittersweet nostalgia for something that can never be recaptured.


The second two verses depict the aftermath of the carnival leaving town in the rain - the shouting is over and the fabulous freaks are leaving. The fact that the procession is moving silently implies a sense of finality and sadness. The final line about watching the moon rise again for the very first time is a bit cryptic, but it could mean that the end of the carnival has opened up new possibilities or made the world seem different somehow.


Line by Line Meaning

Outside
Setting the scene in an external environment.


The storm clouds gathering,
Describing the ominous atmospheric conditions outside.


Moved silently along the dusty boulevard.
The quiet, yet ominous movement of the storm clouds.


Where flowers turning crane their fragile necks
Describing the natural beauty of the flowers in the area.


So they can in turn
Explaining the flowers' purpose.


Reach up and kiss the sky.
Describing the movement of the flowers, which creates a pleasing image.


They are driven by a strange desire
Speculating on the reason behind the flowers' movement.


Unseen by the human eye
Noting that the reason is beyond what humans can see or comprehend.


Someone is calling.
Hinting that there may be supernatural or mysterious elements at play in the scene.


I remember when you held my hand
Recalling an intimate moment with someone.


In the park we would play when the circus came to town.
Recalling a specific situation and time period in the past that the singer associates with joy.


Look! Over here.
Calling attention to something specific in the scene.


Outside
Repeating the earlier descriptor and creating a parallel between the two scenes.


The circus gathering
Describing a new scene that takes place in a similar environment.


Moved silently along the rainswept boulevard.
Creating a similar, though more somber and ominous atmosphere around the new scene.


The procession moved on the shouting is over
Describing the movement of the circus and the accompanying changes in the atmosphere and noise level.


The fabulous freaks are leaving town.
Describing the departure of a specific group of people associated with the circus, using a pejorative label.


They are driven by a strange desire
Echoing the earlier line that suggested that the flowers were also motivated by an unexpected force.


Unseen by the human eye.
Reiterating that there are elements of this scene that the audience cannot perceive.


The carnival is over
Suggesting that the circus symbolizes a kind of fleeting joy that has come to an end.


We sat and watched
The artist and an unidentified listener are observers of the scenes that are unfolding.


As the moon rose again
Drawing attention to a celestial event that marks the end of the day and the passage of time.


For the very first time.
Suggesting that although this is a natural event, it can be experienced in a new or special way each time.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRENDAN MICHAEL PERRY, LISA GERMAINE GERRARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@saltywisdom

Outside the storm clouds gathering
Moved silently along the dusty boulevard
Where flowers turning crane their fragile necks
So they can in turn reach up and kiss the sky

They are driven by a strange desire
Unseen by the human eye
Someone's calling

I remember when you held my hand
In the park we would play
When the circus came to town
Look over here

Outside the circus gathering
Moved silently along the rain swept boulevard
The procession moves on the shouting is over
The fabulous freaks are leaving town

They are driven by a strange desire
Unseen by the human eye
Someone's calling
The carnival is over

We sat and watched
As the moon rose
For the very first time



@carlotapuig

Outside the storm clouds gathering
Moved silently along the dusty boulevard
Where flowers turning crane their fragile necks
So they can in turn reach up and kiss the sky

They're driven by a strange desire
Unseen by the human eye
Someone's calling

I remember when you held my hand
In the park we would play
When the circus came to town
Look over here

Outside the circus gathering
Moved silently along the rain swept boulevard
The procession moved on, the shouting is over
The fabulous freaks are leaving town

They're driven by a strange desire
Unseen by the human eye
Someone's calling

The carnival is over

We sat and watched
As the moon rose
For the very first time



@dusilva932

Lá fora as nuvens de tempestade se reunindo
Movidas silenciosamente ao longo da avenida empoeirada
Onde as flores girando esticam seus pescoços
Então, elas podem, por sua vez, alcançar e beijar o céu

São movidas por um desejo estranho
Invisível ao olho humano
Alguém está chamando

Eu lembro quando você segurou minha mão
No parque iríamos brincar
Quando o circo veio para a cidade
Olha lá

A reunião do circo
Movido silenciosamente ao longo do bulevar varrido pela chuva
A procissão avançou, a gritaria acabou
As aberrações fabulosas estão deixando a cidade

São movidos por um desejo estranho
Invisível ao olho humano
Alguem está chamando

O carnaval acabou

Nós sentamos e assistimos
Enquanto a lua nascia
Pela primeira vez



All comments from YouTube:

@jillianperkins3207

This was my mother's funeral song. When she was alive, the first time she heard it she told my brothers and I that it was her funeral song. So we made sure she got her wish. Love you mum xx

@jaimesastre6393

Nice 🙏
I was thinking too for myself. It's an excellent choice I think.

@oscarchacon7543

so sorry jill, she wet with love and marvelous music vibes💞

@melangeazul286

R.I.P. Beautiful song. I had the privilege to see DCD live in the 90's

@darryltoups7315

I like the request.Peace.

@yccct54

🙁😢 sorry for your loss

15 More Replies...

@halschild1708

I edited this video. It's still my favorite project that I worked on.

@pslugworth

It's a tour de force! I admire the editing every time I watch this.

@gabbyhyman1246

Thank you. It's fantastic!!!!

@PawelChyrowski

Great work! I love this video clip. Amazing job!

More Comments

More Versions