19 November 2012
Everything just stopped when the showman came to town No need for advertising, people flocked from miles around A charmer and magician, he knew a spell or two And if you crossed his palm he would sing a song for you He rolled up to a hamlet in his handsome horse drawn cart Freshly painted yesterday to display the showmans art The townsfolk had all gathered to see his newest show It was all smoke and mirrors (but they didn't need to know) 'My name's The Great Stupendo and I travel far and wide My magic, songs and charms will make your eyeballs open wide!' Sitting at the back there was a lonely girl Looking on enraptured as he gave a showmans twirl Her life and work were drudgery but she never missed a show She would dress the best she could with her hair tied in a bow But no-one would escort her despite her prettiness And she only had an hour. 'No more my girl, no less!'
'For the next part of my show I require a volunteer A pretty girl, with courage, and no single sign of fear' As he looked upon his audience his heart had skipped a beat He saw the lonely girl and gently led her from her seat He helped her to the stage and told her to sit down She expected trickery and to be laughed at all over town But instead he sang a love song and she cherished every word How could she resist when he sang like a songbird 'Ladies and gentlemen, that's all from me for now If you'd show appreciation, here's my cap, you know how' The girl rejoined the audience and to rapturous applause He grabbed his bulging cap, got in his cart and closed the doors
The lonely girl was working, as per normal, through the night Scrubbing floors and dressing sores by faintest candlelight Her attention was distracted by the smallest plaintive knock And at the servants entrance she turned the heavy lock In the doorway stood a man as plain as plain could be His head was slightly bowed and his face she couldn't see But she recognised the cap that she'd seen upon the stage An old moth eaten thing that had held the showmans wage He softly begged her pardon. 'I don't mean to intrude Please don't think me forward or that I'm being rude I sang to you today and I meant every line You seem like such a lonely girl, and your tale is much like mine My given name is Arthur, and I am lonely too You've heard the showmans stories but none of them are true If you'll have me I can take you from this dull and dreary life Would you consider becoming The Great Stupendo's wife?'
The showman and the lonely girl were married the next day Their loneliness was vanquished in every single way By light he was Stupendo, all magic, charms and song By night he was her Arthur, the man she'd waited for so long Each time a different hamlet, each time a different show How long he'd stay the showman, only time would know Yet the moral to their story is a simple one, it seems You don't have to be a showman to find the woman of your dreams...
The Showman and the Lonely Girl • Opuss № I