I was walking up Sixth Avenue when Balloon Man came right up to me
He was round and fat and spherical
With the biggest grin I'd ever seen
He bounced on up toward me
But before we could be introduced
He blew up very suddenly
I guess his name was probably Bruce

And I laughed like I always do
And I cried like I cried for you
And Balloon Man blew up in my hand

He spattered me with tomatoes, Hummus, chick peas
And some strips of skin
So I made a right on 44th
And I washed my hands when I got in

And it rained like a slow divorce
And I wish I could ride a horse
And Balloon Man blew up in my hand

I was walking up Sixth Avenue when
Balloon Man blew up in my face
There were loads of them on Bryant Park
So I didn't feel out of place
There must have been a plague of them
On the TV when I came home late
They were guzzling marshmallows and
They're jumping off the Empire State

And I laughed like I always do
And I cried like I cried for you
And Balloon Man blew up in my hand
Balloon Man blew up in my hand


Lyrics submitted by Milkman82

Balloon Man Lyrics as written by Robyn Hitchcock

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Balloon Man song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    Why do I have a feeling A&M were pestering Robyn to "write a hit single" (as if it were possible, to do that intentionally) -- so this was either:

    a tongue-in-cheek attempt at something so obviously lightweight, it couldn't possibly offend anyone? OR...

    an over-the-top self-parody, intended to convince his label such a thing was impossible?

    Might even have made a small dent in the charts, had it gotten some airplay. Saw Robyn and the Egyptians when they were touring circa Globe of Frogs. My brother--not at all a fan--bought a "Balloon Man" T-shirt.

    foreverdroneon July 17, 2010   Link

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