Lyrics:
No doubt you have heard of the Great Fancy Fair,
That used to take place ev'ry day,
Well I thought for amusement I'd take my girl there,
To pass a dull hour away;
We went in, you must know, and saw Barnum's big show,
And Forepaugh's Menagerie as well.
There were Roundabouts, swings and all kind of things;
Forget the day I never shall. spoken:
Yes, when we got in the Fair, my girl wanted to have a ride
on one of the Roundabouts; I said, “all right, my darling,”
and we had a swing, but directly the swing went to and fro,
she lustily called out:
chorus:
“Oh! Fred, tell them to stop!”
That was the cry of Maria,
But the more she said “Wo!” they said, “Let it go.”
And the swing went a little bit higher.
The people that stood round of course they all laughed,
But I only said “Stop the swing.”
There were four or five others in the boats beside us,
Saying “Master, don't do such a thing.”
Then four or five roughs caught hold of the ropes,
Maria fell down on her knee,
And one of them said, the young man's turning red,
“But isn't he having a spree?”
They soon stopp'd the swing and Maria got out,
And quickly fell down on the floor,
They brought her some water, which soon brought her to,
This girl whom I do now adore.
Should you ever go there, to the great Fancy Fair,
Friends,take advice whilst I sing,
Of the great Roundabout, it's the best fun that's out,
And finish the day with a swing. spoken:
Mark now before you get into the swing boat,
make a bargain with your young lady not to call out.
