LARRY GATLIN: Have I Stayed Too Long At the Fair?

I really love songs…make that, I really love great songs. I know one when I see one…or, hear one. I have had the great, good fortune to have been tutored in the art, not of songwriting, but, songcrafting, by some of the greatest song craftsmen, and song craftswomen, in the history of American music: Cash, Kristofferson, Miller, Nelson, Newbury, West, Lane, Gaither. — All masters of the craft. I would like to add another to the list: Billy Barnes. ;

I offer the following lyric to prove my point regarding Mr. Barnes: ;

I wanted the music to play on forever
Have I stayed too long at the fair?
I wanted the clown to be constantly clever
Have I stayed too long at the fair
I bought my blue ribbons to tie up my hair
But couldn’t find anybody to care
The merry-go-round is beginning to taunt now
Have I stayed too long at the fair
Oh mother dear, I know you’re very proud
Your little girl in gingham is so far from the crowd
No daddy dear, you never could have known
That I would be successful, yet so very alone
I wanted to live in a carnival city
With laughter everywhere
I wanted my friends to be thrilling and witty
I wanted somebody to care
I found my blue ribbons all shiny and new
But now I discover them no longer blue
The merry-go-round is beginning to taunt me
Have I stayed too long at the fair
There’s nothing to win
And there’s no one to want me
Have I stayed too long at the fair.

On Wednesday, as I was waiting for my old friend and golfing buddy, John Boehner, to be sworn in as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, much to my dismay, I had to listen to Comrade Pelosi’s drivel about how wonderful her “reign” had been, and how she and her “cronies” had protected the poor and the children BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH…how wonderful her family is, and how brilliant JFK was. (By the way, he would roll over in his grave if he were to see what has become of the Democratic Party….Remember this, “Ask not what your country can do for you, rather, ask what you can do for your country.” HOLY OBAMACARE BATMAN…and let’s just go ahead and extend the unemployment benefits, so that they run out…well, NEVER!!)

Anyway, back to Mr. Barnes and his gnomic lyric, “Have I stayed too long at the fair.” When “Barbra” sings it, every one else should just sit down and take notes.

And speaking of “just sitting down”…Nancy, please, SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!! You are no longer the Speaker/G-5 passenger/briber/backroom, arm- twisting dirty deal maker/purveyor of crappola/truth avoider…..Sit down, Nancy. You have stayed too long at the fair. Give John the big hammer “thing” before someone has to pry it from your grubby little hands. — This would all be very embarrassing were it not for the fact that you and your ilk are totally unembarrassable!

Nancy, go listen to the “Babs” version of “I have stayed too long at the fair” and when she has sung the last glorious note, say to yourself, “Yes, I have stayed too long at the fair.” And then, go home to your carnival city and relax… I mean, be very quiet!

Finally, the woman handed the new Speaker Boehner the big hammer “thing” and sat down. ;

Now I can listen to Mr Speaker Boehner and then go to sleep watching “SportsCenter.” ;

Good night, Mrs. Callabash, wherever you are. ;

Larry Gatlin is a songwriter/musician and a frequent contributor to Fox News Opinion.

Larry Gatlin is a country music singer and songwriter.

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