The group Peter, Paul and Mary launched in 1961 and broke up in 1970, after which Travers pursued a solo career, recording five albums on her own.
Circus
Mary Travers Lyrics
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And if I am your sign
Don't try to understand it guy
When I draw the line
It hasn't come to this
That you can say I waste my time
Looking everywhere and going nowhere
Oh the skies they look so lazy now
And heavy are the clouds
There's nothing here that I could learn
What it's all about
You haven't said a thing to me
And you talk so very loud
Looking everywhere, going nowhere
So I think I'll try the circus
Or go back to Mexico
It's time to make mistakes again
It's time to change the show
It's time and time and time again
To find another way
It's time to gather forces
And get out of yesterday
Because I've lost what I was looking for
There's nothing left to share
I need to take myself away
To be some other where
To face a life, a minute more
I don't think I can spare
Looking everywhere, going nowhere
So I tell you when you hurt me
'Cause you just don't seem to know
And I inform you when I'm lonely
And you still don't think I'll go
So if I lie to you and smile a thought
It's only half way here
It's just a circus and I'm singing
And I'm never really near
If I look like home to you
And if I am your sign
Don't try to understand it guy
When I draw the line
It hasn't come to this
That you can say I waste my time
Looking everywhere
Looking everywhere
Looking anywhere
Going nowhere
The lyrics of Mary Travers's song Circus convey a sense of uncertainty and restlessness that many people can relate to. The singer seems to be searching for something, but isn't sure what it is. The opening lines, "If I look like home to you / And if I am your sign / Don't try to understand it guy / When I draw the line," suggest that the singer might be in a relationship that isn't satisfying their needs. They are asking their partner not to question their decision to leave, as it is necessary for them.
The second stanza paints a picture of a dreary day and a lack of purpose. The line "There's nothing here that I could learn / What it's all about" highlights the singer's disillusionment with the world around them. They feel like they are "going nowhere."
In the chorus, the singer suggests trying something new and changing the show. Going to the circus or back to Mexico represents the idea of starting fresh and taking risks. They want to break away from their current situation and find another way.
The final verse highlights the singer's struggle to express themselves and be understood by their partner. They feel like they are performing in a never-ending circus and are never really near. The closing repetition of "looking everywhere, going nowhere" emphasizes their continued feeling of uncertainty and aimlessness.
Overall, Circus is a song about searching for something that feels out of reach, and the desire to break free from a stagnant situation.
Line by Line Meaning
If I look like home to you
If I seem like a source of comfort to you
And if I am your sign
And if I serve as a symbol of something to you
Don't try to understand it guy
Don't try to analyze it, man
When I draw the line
When I set boundaries
It hasn't come to this
It hasn't reached the point where
That you can say I waste my time
You can accuse me of wasting my time
Looking everywhere and going nowhere
Searching everywhere but finding nothing
Oh the skies they look so lazy now
The sky appears lethargic at the moment
And heavy are the clouds
The clouds seem burdensome
There's nothing here that I could learn
There's nothing here to teach me
What it's all about
The meaning of everything
You haven't said a thing to me
You have not communicated with me
And you talk so very loud
And yet you speak so emphatically
So I think I'll try the circus
So I'm considering joining the circus
Or go back to Mexico
Or returning to Mexico
It's time to make mistakes again
It's time to take risks once more
It's time to change the show
It's time to alter the course of actions
It's time and time and time again
It's a recurring theme to
To find another way
To find a different path
It's time to gather forces
It's time to bring together one's strength
And get out of yesterday
And leave the past behind
Because I've lost what I was looking for
Because I've lost what I was searching for
There's nothing left to share
There's nothing left to be divided
I need to take myself away
I need to remove myself
To be some other where
To be in a different place
To face a life, a minute more
To confront life, if only for another moment
I don't think I can spare
I don't think I can afford to waste
So I tell you when you hurt me
So I confess when you cause me pain
'Cause you just don't seem to know
Because you appear unaware
And I inform you when I'm lonely
And I let you know when I feel alone
And you still don't think I'll go
Yet you still don't believe I will leave
So if I lie to you and smile a thought
So if I deceive you and express a thought with a smile
It's only half way here
It's only partially sincere
It's just a circus and I'm singing
It's just an act and I'm singing
And I'm never really near
And I'm never really close
Looking everywhere
Searching everywhere
Looking everywhere
Searching everywhere
Looking anywhere
Searching in any direction
Going nowhere
Making no progress
Contributed by Declan I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.