About the song
“The Carnival Is Over” is a song that has captivated audiences for generations, with its haunting melody and poignant lyrics. Written by Tom Springfield for the Australian folk pop group the Seekers, this song is based on a Russian folk song from the 19th century, adapted with original English-language lyrics. The song’s success in 1965 was nothing short of phenomenal, spending three weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart and selling over 1.41 million copies in the UK alone.
The song’s origins date back to the 1880s, when a Russian folk song about the Cossack ataman Stenka Razin became popular in Russia. The original poem, written by Dmitry Sadovnikov, tells the story of Razin’s alleged killing of his Persian lover, a beautiful princess, and his subsequent throwing of her into the River Volga. This tragic tale has been retold and reinterpreted over the years, with the Seekers’ version being one of the most well-known and beloved adaptations.
The Seekers’ version of “The Carnival Is Over” is a masterclass in songwriting, with Tom Springfield’s adaptation of the folk song melody being a key factor in its success. Springfield’s changes to the time signature and addition of a chorus allowed him to expand the song’s structure and create a sense of drama and tension. The lyrics, which compare the lovers to the perpetually unhappy Commedia dell’arte characters Pierrot and Columbine, add a layer of depth and emotion to the song.
The song’s impact extends beyond its commercial success, with “The Carnival Is Over” being performed by a wide range of artists and appearing in various films and television shows. From the Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra’s 1967 tour of Australia to the 1988 film The Unbearable Lightness of Being, this song has become a timeless classic, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries.
In conclusion, “The Carnival Is Over” is a song that has captured the hearts of audiences around the world, with its haunting melody and poignant lyrics. From its origins in 19th-century Russia to its adaptation by the Seekers in the 1960s, this song has become a timeless classic, a testament to the power of music to bring people together and transcend cultural boundaries.
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