Stayed too long at the fair

Posted by Henry on February 08, 2005

In Reply to: Stayed too long at the fair posted by ESC on February 08, 2005

: : Can anyone tell me the origin and meaning of the phrase "stayed too long at the fair". Thank you, Susan.

: There's a song. But I don't know if that is the original use:

: I wanted the music to play on forever
: Have I stayed too long at the fair?
: I wanted the clown to be constantly clever
: Have I stayed too long at the fair?
: I brought me blue ribbons to tie up my hair
: But I couldn't find anybody to care
: The merry-go-round is beginning to slow now
: Have I stayed too long at the fair?
: There is nothing to win,
: And there's no one to want me...

It is a familiar phrase. Here's another song from Bonnie Raitt's album of 1972; Give it up, Too long at the fair by Joel Zoss

Jesus cried, wept and died
I guess he went up to heaven
I've been downtown such a long, long time
I'll never make it home by seven
Won't you come & take me home
I've been too long at the fair
And, lord, I just can't stand it anymore

I presume it means the person has spent too long at pleasure, perhaps like Ciderella.

• Stayed too long at the fair Susan 08/February/05
  • Stayed too long at the fair ESC 09/February/05