Jocko and the Trapeze Lady

Song Specific Liner Notes
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Other Notes of Interest
The following thoughts from Trio fan Sue Keller:	Bob Shane describes this song as "the best folk type song I've ever heard in my life" . . . His opinion is an accurate one. In seven minutes, this song paints a picture of unrequited love between two richly drawn characters. Jocko could easily be any one of us who loves and never tells the object of our affection but would risk their lives for that person. The trapeze lady is never given a name but we feel we know her just the same. She is a graceful person but focused on the immediate surroundings . . . a good trait for someone hanging hundreds of feet in the air . . . but not good in recognizing a possible true love. Adding to this beautiful story is George Grove's sensitive, moving vocal. His narration is filled with emotion and doesn't betray the ending in any way. Add to this, a simple guitar part that waltzes as easily as the trapeze lady swings and it is close to perfection for a Kingston Trio song. Some may call this song a maudlin piece and even a bit overly sentimental but both the lyrics and the vocal save it from these accusations. This song has so many life lessons in it. Live for the moment . . . Never hide your feelings . . . giving your life for another . . . It is an important song for all of us to hear from time to time . . . I'm glad George saw something in it to add to the Kingston Trio catalog. Suzy-q
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He was a boy when the circus first came to the dust of his West Texas town.
And twenty years later, he'd spent twenty years as Jocko the Sad Circus Clown.
He did slap-stick gags in grease paint and rags and the people would laugh 'til they cried.
But they never saw past the painted clown mask to the sad, empty man locked inside.

The trapeze lady swung easy and gracefully, high in the high trapeze swing.
Her parents were flyers. The circus was her life. The carny was deep in her veins.
High in the spotlights in sequins and pink tights, she flew like a bird in the wind.
The saw dust's on daughter, the strong men who caught her were all that she brought to her tent.

Jocko worked down with the center ring clowns with a sad painted smile on his face
And the trapeze lady swung easy and gracefully high in the great canvas space.
Jocko looked up with a tear in his heart and, Lord, he wished he could fly
For she never looked down at a baggy pants clown who looked up with love in his eyes.

It was Tulsa, the last stop, the last show of the big top, a loud, sell-out crowd filled the seats.
They clapped for the walk-around and cheered for the clowns. The fliers brought them to their feet.
Then a still half-lit match fell in tender dry grass and soon found the dry saw dust floor.
The flames leaped higher. When the people heard, "Fire!" they swept like a wave for the door.

Jocko looked up to the top of the tent and a hundred feet from the ground
Swung the trapeze lady, up on the high swing, alone, with no way to get down.
He ran to the ladder that led to the platform, she cried, "Jocko, no! There's no time!"
But her quick word of fear fell deaf on love's ear as slowly he started to climb.

Hand over hand to the high flier's stand, taking the rope that hung there
With one quick look down, the sad circus clown looked up and took to the air.
Slow then slowly he started to swing, his eyes turned to tears in the smoke.
Faster then faster and as he swung past her, her strong flier hands found the rope.

She slipped to the ground as the flames found the rigging and licked at the rope that he held.
He'd started below when the rigging let go and down to the saw dust he fell.
She ran to his side and with tears in her eyes, "Oh, no! Jocko, why?" she cried.
He raised his sad head. "I loved you," he said and he closed his eyes and he died.

Now, the trapeze lady swings easy and gracefully high in the great canvass space.
But a place and a time are still etched in her mind of a smile painted on a sad face.
And she sometimes looks down to the center ring clowns for someone she never has found.
For she still remembers the time when love came to her wearing the face of a clown.

Bob Shane (vocal, guitar), George Grove (vocal, guitar), Nick Reynolds (vocal, guitar), Paul Gabrielson (bass), Ben Schubert (Electric Fiddle, Tenor Guitar), Tom Green (Drums):

Covers by other artists
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Last revised: March 30, 2006.