Trip To The Fair
Renaissance Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I took a trip down to look at the fair
When I arrived I found nobody there
It seemed I was all alone
Must be that they've all gone home

[Chorus]
A trip to the fair but nobody was there
A trip to the fair but nobody was there

Voices of yesterday make not a sound
Even the roundabout stopped going round
I wonder just what it means
Is everything how it seems?

[Chorus]

A creak as the dodgems came onto the scene
Wheels began turning I started to scream
A carousel swung around
My head spun and hit the ground

[Chorus]

I close my eyes to disguise the fear from inside
Trembling within my own mind I find no place to hide
Stars of tomorrow shine through the grey mist that has gone
I wish that this trip to the fair had never begun

Suddenly thousands of faces I see
Everyone seemed to be staring at me
Clowns laughed in the penny arcade
What was this game my mind played?

I took a trip down to look at the fair
When I arrived I found nobody there
It seemed I was all alone
Must be that they've all gone home





A trip to the fair but nobody was there, but nobody was there
A trip to the fair but nobody was there, but nobody was there

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Trip To The Fair" by Renaissance express the feeling of disorientation and confusion. The singer takes a trip to a fair, but finds that no one is there. The absence of people is accompanied by an eerie silence, and even the sound of the roundabout has stopped. The singer becomes increasingly unsure of what's happening, and as dodgems appear on the scene, the fear becomes more intense. The carousel swings around and the singer screams as their head spins and hits the ground. The fear is palpable, and the singer wishes that the trip to the fair had never begun.


As the song progresses, thousands of faces appear, and clowns laugh in the penny arcade. The singer becomes unsure what is real and what is part of their own mind playing tricks on them. The trip serves as an allegory for the fragility and uncertainty of the human mind, and the fear of losing control.


Overall, "Trip To The Fair" is a hauntingly beautiful song that conveys a sense of unease and helplessness. It explores the experience of being lost in a strange place, unsure of what's happening around you, and trying to make sense of it all.


Line by Line Meaning

I took a trip down to look at the fair
I went to visit the fair


When I arrived I found nobody there
When I arrived, the fair was empty


It seemed I was all alone
I felt like I was the only one there


Must be that they've all gone home
I assumed that everyone had left


[Chorus]
Repetition of the opening lines


Voices of yesterday make not a sound
There was complete silence, even the sounds from the past weren't present


Even the roundabout stopped going round
Even the carousel had stopped


I wonder just what it means
I was curious about what was happening


Is everything how it seems?
I questioned if what I perceived was real


[Chorus]
Repetition of the opening lines


A creak as the dodgems came onto the scene
I heard the sound of the bumper cars coming into view


Wheels began turning I started to scream
The bumper cars started to move and I got scared


A carousel swung around
The carousel started to spin


My head spun and hit the ground
I got dizzy and fell


[Chorus]
Repetition of the opening lines


I close my eyes to disguise the fear from inside
I closed my eyes to hide my fear


Trembling within my own mind I find no place to hide
I was anxious and couldn't find a way to calm myself


Stars of tomorrow shine through the grey mist that has gone
Hope for the future pierces through the darkness of my present situation


I wish that this trip to the fair had never begun
I regretted coming to the fair


Suddenly thousands of faces I see
I suddenly saw a large crowd of people


Everyone seemed to be staring at me
All eyes were on me


Clowns laughed in the penny arcade
Clowns at the penny arcade were laughing


What was this game my mind played?
I was confused about what was happening


[Chorus]
Repetition of the opening lines


A trip to the fair but nobody was there, but nobody was there
Reinforcement of the fact that there was no one at the fair




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL DUNFORD, BETTY THATCHER, JOHN TOUT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

H AH

@Iggy Strode
I call you a lucky person Iggy.the song is very capturing.she must've
gone out of her mind to find the
people missing at the fair.they
must have boarded a flying saucer
last time I heard this song was
46 years ago.very happy I found
this song and who played it.be cool
Iggy,wish you well



All comments from YouTube:

Ray Valencia

Love this song. I used to play it in my record store all the time. My customers probably got sick of it but I never did. Annie Haslam’s voice really got to me. Still does.

iggy strode

I named Annie my top female vocalist of all time on my radio show here in St Louis. She was kind enough to join me the next day. What a tremendous talent and lovely lady. She is even donating one of her paintings to a charity auction I am holding. They don't make music like this anymore. I'm so glad they are doing a few Midwestern dates this fall.

The 1101 Experiment

Excellent choice.

H AH

@Iggy Strode
I call you a lucky person Iggy.the song is very capturing.she must've
gone out of her mind to find the
people missing at the fair.they
must have boarded a flying saucer
last time I heard this song was
46 years ago.very happy I found
this song and who played it.be cool
Iggy,wish you well

Michael Salisbury

rolling piece of music

Michael Salisbury

rolling piece of music

singinjohnny

Some of the most beautiful bass-playing I have ever heard is on this album. It's right up front. You could call it "lead bass" in similar fashion to "lead guitar". This song, in particular is a story in itself and the music plays such a big part in telling the story, especially when the thousands of faces appear. The jazz celesta solo is so unique as well. Annie's voice is so very beautiful as well as the beautiful harmony singing. A true classic.

Dan Grubbs

Chris Squire was a master at the lead bass.

Michele Brotman

I absolutely love the jazz section ❤

Ron LoLordo

In this period of stress caused by COVID and war, it's very relaxing to take a trip to the fair.

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