The Flying Trapeze (1868)

A comic waltz song from the London music hall. Words and music by George Leybourne. Arranged by Alfred Lee. Published by Oliver Ditson & Co.

sung by sheet music singer, Fred Feild
piano according to the sheet music

1. Once I was happy, but now I'm forlorn
Like an old coat, that is tattered and torn
Left on this wide world to fret and to mourn
Betrayed by a maid in her teens
The girl that I loved, she was handsome
I tried all I knew, her to please
But I could not please her one quarter so well
Like that man upon the Trapeze

Chorus:
He'd fly thro' the air with the greatest of ease
A daring young man on the flying Trapeze
His movements were graceful, all girls he could please
And my love he purloined away

2. This young man by name was "Signor Bona Slang"
Tall, big, and handsome as well made as Chang
Where'er he appeared, the hall loudly rang
With ovation from all people there
He'd smile from the bar on the people below
And one night he smiled on my love
She winked back at him, and she shouted "Bravo!"
As he hung by his nose up above

3. Her father and mother were both on my side
And very hard tried to make her my own bride
Her father he sighed, and her mother she cried
To see her throw herself away
'Twas all no avail, she went there every night
And would throw him boquets on the stage
Which caused him to meet her, how he ran me down
To tell you would take a whole page

4. One night I as ususal, went to her dear home
Found there her father and mother alone
I asked for my love, and soon they made known
To my horror that she'd run away
She'd packed up her box, and eloped in the night
With him with the greatest of ease
From two stories high, he had lowered her down
To the ground on his flying Trapeze

5. Some months after this I went to a Hall
Was greatly surprised to see on the wall
A bill in red letters, which did my heart gall
That she was appearing with him
He taught her gymnastics, and dressed her in tights
To help him to live at his ease
And made her assume a masculine name
And now she goes on the Trapeze

Chorus:
She floats through the air with the greatest of ease
You'd think her a man on the flying Trapeze
She does all the work, while he takes his ease
And that's what's become of my love

This charming song is an old favorite. It was probably written and composed by Alfred Lee. It was made famous by Joe Saunders (stage name George Leybourne), a mechanic and singer from the midlands of England. He sang it in the London music hall. It has a four-part harmony chorus.

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Get the sheet music and MIDI at:

[tarynbrianna]

my grandfather sang this to me and my little sister a few days before he died ♡

[cha]

A Popeye Fleischer cartoon from the early 1930's brought me here.
Seriously I had no idea this song went all the way to the late 1860's.
Thank you for sharing it with us. :-)

[britneysprsfanforever]

The movie "It happened one night" brought me here!!😀😃 They are all singing it on the bus so happy!!😉😉

[karenyou]

I like the stories these old songs tell. So enjoyable.

[rubywolf]

I love this is makes me thing of the flying Grayson’s also a little of kermet the frog but in the best way does that make since

[nick]

I remember this song from the Little Rascals. Crazy how this song was as old in the 30s as the 30s is to now in age

[larryseesasia]

I had no idea that this song was that old. I thought it was from the 1930s. In the 1934 movie It Happened One Night, all of the passengers and the driver sang this song on the bus. That made me think that it was a current, popular song at the time.

[brunhilda]

It's been two days since I found this, and I still can't believe this childhood favorite is about some guy being butthurt over a fickle teenage girl. Still love it though.

[alexanderhyatt]

It may be a popular circus song about the flying trapeze artist, but it’s also a very sad love story that might bring tears to one’s eyes and break hearts to those who either listen to it or sing it.💔😢😭

[anthonywilliams]

Charles Dickens was living at home in Kent when this song was written !!!

[johnboger]

The man on the flying trapeze was otherwise known as Jules Leotard. He was an international star in the 1860s. He designed a one-piece suit to help execute his aerodynamic stunts. Now now put two and two together.

[leonisilva]

Many, many thanks. ´tis a wonderful song. Elderly people knew life and its many ways.

[nobleroman]

I don't believe in my 60 years that I ever heard the whole song, all I can say is Bully ! Bully ! and thanks for posting it , it's Capital.

[judyleegonzales]

Since I was on grade 5 I have love this song and I can't believe they thought as the wrong tempo, incomplete lyrics... But still I love this song💕💓💓

[LeotheTiger]

I have Popeye the Sailor to thank for introducing me to this tune because one cartoon has him discovering a trapeze artist had lured Olive Oyl away from him. He wins her back, but I can't remember if he shuts down the circus or just sabotages the trapeze artist; also I can't remember if the artist was Bluto or somebody else.

[roshandaniel]

This lad was the OG Mr. Steal-your-Girl

[tyrian_baal]

I remember the Jibjab version of this song, you guys do such important work

[markwhitmoyer]

They had this sung this song on the Waltons. Thank you so much!

[kobaltsteel]

... huh, what a strange song... very surreal, like someone said here...

[lunakelly]

Wait, so this is the story of how Dick Grayson's parents met?