Lyrics Harry Nilsson

Harry Nilsson

1941

Well in 1941 a happy father had a son

And by 1944 the father walked right out the door

And in '45 the mom and son were still alive

But who could tell in '46 if the two were to survive

Well the years were passing quickly

But not fast enough for him

So he closed his eyes through '55

And he opened them up again

When he looked around he saw a clown

And the clown seemed very gay

And he set that night to join that circus clown and run away

Well he followed every railroad track

And every highway sign

And he had a girl in each new town

And the towns he left behind

And the open road

Was the only road he knew

But the color of his dreams

Were slowly turning into blue

Then he met a girl the kind of girl

He'd wanted all his life

She was soft and kind and good to him

So he took her for his wife

And they got a house not far from town

And in a little while

The girl had seen the doctor

And she came home with a smile

Now in 1961 a happy father had a son

And by 1964 the father walked right out the door

And in '65 the mom and son were still around

But what will happen to the boy

When the circus comes to town?

[Scat solo]