My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist
Tarkio Lyrics
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In pre-war Paris
Smuggling bombs for the underground.
And she met my father
At a fete in Aix-en-Provence.
He was disguised as a Russian cadet
in the employ of the Axis.
And there in the half-light
To a lone concertina
They drank in cantinas
And toasted to Edith Piaf
And the fall of the Reich.
My sister was born in a hovel in Burgundy
And left for the cattle
But later was found by a communist
Who'd deserted his ranks
To follow his dream
To start up a punk rock band in South Carolina.
I get letters sometimes.
They bought a plantation
She weeds the tobacco
He offends the nation
And they write, "Don't be a stranger, y'hear?
Sincerely, your sister."
So my parents had me
To the disgust of the prostitutes
On a bed in a brothel.
Surprisingly raised with tender care
'Til the money got tight
And they bet me away
To a blind brigadier in a game
Of high stakes canasta.
But he made me a sailor
On his brigadier ship fleet.
I know every yardarm
From main mast to jib sheet.
But sometimes I long to be landlocked
And to work in a bakery.
The song "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist" by Tarkio tells the story of the singer's unique family history. The first verse describes how the singer's mother was a trapeze artist from China who was living in pre-war Paris and smuggling bombs for the underground movement. It is in this setting that she meets the singer's father, who was masquerading as a Russian cadet working for the Axis powers. Despite their opposing allegiances, they fall in love and spend time together in the provincial midnight drinking in cantinas and toasting to Edith Piaf and the fall of the Reich. This verse creates an atmosphere of danger, secrecy, and intrigue that sets the tone for the rest of the song.
The second verse reveals that the singer's sister was born in a hovel in Burgundy, and was later adopted by a communist who left his ranks to start a punk rock band in South Carolina. Despite their unconventional lifestyle, the singer receives letters from them where they write about their plantation, tobacco farming, and offending the nation. This verse is an interesting contrast to the first, as it introduces a more carefree and rebellious element to the story.
The third verse describes the singer's own upbringing, which was a result of his parents' relationship being frowned upon by prostitutes who witnessed his conception on a brothel bed. Despite this, the singer was surprisingly raised with tenderness until the money became tight and he was bet away to a blind brigadier in a game of high stakes canasta. However, it is revealed that this turn of events was not entirely bad, as the singer is now a sailor and knows every yardarm from main mast to jib sheet. The final line of the song, where the singer longs to work in a bakery, is a poignant contrast to his adventurous life so far and adds a touch of humor to the story.
Overall, the song is a unique take on family history, with a mixture of danger, rebellion, tenderness, and adventure woven into the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
My mother was a Chinese trapeze artist
My mother was a brave woman, performing acrobatics above great heights in Paris before the war.
In pre-war Paris
This happened before the Second World War.
Smuggling bombs for the underground.
She was involved in a dangerous mission smuggling explosives for the resistance movement in France.
And she met my father
My mother would soon meet my father and start a new chapter in her life.
At a fete in Aix-en-Provence.
They fell in love at a festival in the South of France.
He was disguised as a Russian cadet
My father was in disguise, pretending to be a Russian soldier, but he was actually working for the Axis powers.
in the employ of the Axis.
My father was a spy serving the interests of the enemies of France.
And there in the half-light
They enjoyed each other's company under the dimmed lights of the night.
Of the provincial midnight
Away from the bustling cities, they had their romantic moment in the small hours of the night.
To a lone concertina
The music they danced to was played by a single accordion player.
They drank in cantinas
They enjoyed drinking in small bars and taverns.
And toasted to Edith Piaf
They raised their glasses to Edith Piaf, a famous French singer.
And the fall of the Reich.
They drank to the hope of the fall of the Nazi regime.
My sister was born in a hovel in Burgundy
My sister was born in a small, cramped room in the rural region of Burgundy.
And left for the cattle
She had to leave because there was no other way to support herself.
But later was found by a communist
Eventually, she was discovered by a person who believed in communism, a political ideology.
Who'd deserted his ranks
This person had left his own group or party.
To follow his dream
He had a dream or an aspiration he wanted to pursue.
To start up a punk rock band in South Carolina.
He wanted to create a band that played a loud, fast, and rebellious style of music called punk rock, in the southern state of South Carolina.
I get letters sometimes.
From time to time, I receive communication from my sister.
They bought a plantation
My sister and her partner acquired a large estate used for farming.
She weeds the tobacco
My sister works diligently removing unnecessary plants from the tobacco fields.
He offends the nation
My sister's partner does something to anger the people in their country.
And they write, "Don't be a stranger, y'hear?
They express concern about losing touch and hope to stay in touch.
Sincerely, your sister."
At the end of the message, it was written with sincerity, and it was signed by my sister.
So my parents had me
I came into existence because of my parents.
To the disgust of the prostitutes
The prostitutes were disgusted that I was born in their place of work.
On a bed in a brothel.
I was born in a place where they sell sexual services.
Surprisingly raised with tender care
Despite the circumstances of my birth, I was raised lovingly and with gentleness.
'Til the money got tight
However, when financial troubles arose, things changed.
And they bet me away
In a game of high stakes canasta, my parents wagered and lost me.
To a blind brigadier in a game
The winner of the game was a military leader who had lost his vision.
Of high stakes canasta.
Canasta is a card game, and high stakes means that a lot of money is being bet on the game.
But he made me a sailor
Instead of exploiting me for his own gain, the blind brigadier made me a member of his ship's crew.
On his brigadier ship fleet.
I was given the task and responsibility of serving on his fleet of ships.
I know every yardarm
I am familiar with all the details of a sailing ship's structure.
From main mast to jib sheet.
This extends from the main or largest sail and runs all the way to the jib or small triangular sail at the front.
But sometimes I long to be landlocked
Despite the love of the sea, sometimes I want to be back on land.
And to work in a bakery.
I dream of working in a place that makes and sells baked goods.
Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.