About the song
“The Carnival Is Over” is a hauntingly beautiful folk ballad performed by the Australian pop-folk group The Seekers. Released in 1965, the song became an instant hit, topping charts in both Australia and the United Kingdom. It has since become one of the band’s most enduring and beloved songs, and continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.
The song tells the story of a young woman who has been left heartbroken by her lover’s departure. She compares her loss to the end of a carnival, a time of joy and revelry that has now come to an end. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery and emotion, and the song’s melody is both melancholic and hopeful.
“The Carnival Is Over” was written by Tom Springfield, one of the founding members of The Seekers. The song was inspired by a Russian folk song, and the melody has a distinctly Eastern European flavor. The lyrics were adapted by Springfield to fit the story of the heartbroken woman, and they capture the sadness and longing that she feels.
The song was released as a single in 1965 and quickly rose to the top of the charts in both Australia and the United Kingdom. It spent three weeks at number one in the UK Singles Chart, and it also reached number two in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was a major success for The Seekers, and it helped to establish them as one of the most popular bands in the world.
“The Carnival Is Over” has been covered by many artists over the years, including Roy Orbison, Olivia Newton-John, and Dolly Parton. However, The Seekers’ version remains the definitive one, and it is the one that is most closely associated with the song.
The song’s popularity is enduring, and it continues to be a favorite of listeners of all ages. Its message of love and loss is one that is relatable to everyone, and its beautiful melody and lyrics have made it a classic of popular music.
Video
Lyrics
Say goodbye my own true lover
As we sing a lovers song
How it breaks my heart to leave you
Now the carnival is gone
High above the dawn is waiting
And my tears are falling rain
For the carnival is over
We may never meet again
Like a drum my heart was beating
And your kiss was sweet as wine
But the joys of love are fleeting
For Pierrot and Columbine
Now the harbor light is calling
This will be our last goodbye
Though the carnival is over
I will love you till I die
Like a drum my heart was beating
And your kiss was sweet as wine
But the joys of love are fleeting
For Pierrot and Columbine
Now the harbour light is calling
This will be our last goodbye
Though the carnival is over
I will love you till I die
Though the carnival is over
I will love you till I die