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The Gypsy Lyrics
Step inside my tent, said she, I'd like to read you palm
Leave the dollar in the jar, this won't take very long
Leave the circus noise behind, close your eyes, relax your mind
I'll tell you if you should quit now or if you should go on
Then I said, now what do ya see
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Where'll I go, what'll I be
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
She threw some sawdust in the air and her hands began to shake
She told me the town where I was born, she almost knew the date
She lit a candle with her eyes and then she made the table rise
She took the dollar from the jar and then she guessed my weight
Then I said, now what do ya see
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
You are so old, you are so wise
Deedlee-dum, deedlee-dy
Give me a sign, tell it to me
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Then she spoke most quietly
Deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
When you we a child at school they taught you quite a lot
You were told when you should speak and when you should not
You were taught to read and write, to take your lessons home at night
A little knowledge serves you well but the golden rule does not
Then I said, now what do ya mean
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Where'll I go, what'll I be
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Then when I came home that night to lie in bed awake
I thought of that old gypsy and the words that she had said
And now I see with due respect, the more we learn the worse we get
So if you feel you've no regrets, go have your fortune read
Then I said, now what do ya mean
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Where'll I go, what'll I be
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
You are so old, you are so wise
Deedlee-dum, deedlee-dy
Give me a sign, tell it to me
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Where'll I go, what'll I be
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
You are so old, you are so wise
Deedlee-dum, deedlee-dy
Give me a sign, tell it to me
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Leave the dollar in the jar, this won't take very long
Leave the circus noise behind, close your eyes, relax your mind
I'll tell you if you should quit now or if you should go on
Then I said, now what do ya see
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Where'll I go, what'll I be
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
She told me the town where I was born, she almost knew the date
She lit a candle with her eyes and then she made the table rise
She took the dollar from the jar and then she guessed my weight
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
You are so old, you are so wise
Deedlee-dum, deedlee-dy
Give me a sign, tell it to me
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Then she spoke most quietly
Deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
You were told when you should speak and when you should not
You were taught to read and write, to take your lessons home at night
A little knowledge serves you well but the golden rule does not
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Where'll I go, what'll I be
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
I thought of that old gypsy and the words that she had said
And now I see with due respect, the more we learn the worse we get
So if you feel you've no regrets, go have your fortune read
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Where'll I go, what'll I be
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
You are so old, you are so wise
Deedlee-dum, deedlee-dy
Give me a sign, tell it to me
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
You are so old, you are so wise
Deedlee-dum, deedlee-dy
Give me a sign, tell it to me
She said, deedlee-dum, deedlee-dee
Song Info
Submitted by
butneveroutgunned On May 27, 2006
More Gordon Lightfoot
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this song is great, no comments? i love the imagery. my favorite part is the "leave your circus noise behind you" part. it immediately reminded me of bob dylan's "temporary like achilles" where he sang "lean into your hallway, lean against your velvet door. watch upon your scorpion who crawls across your circus floor"
i know the only similarity is the word "circus" but i know lightfoot was an inspiration of dylan's so i like to think maybe bd heard this song and thought "circus" as an adjective was cool.... i know i do
woops looks like lightfoot may have been inspired in this song by bd if my theory hold true! hehe did not realize this came out in '68, sounds older... in a good way :) but bob DID mention lightfoot's work in an interview once..
"And now I see with due respect, the more we learn the worse we get!" Weaker get weaker!!!!! "And now I see with due respect, the more we learn the wiser we get!" Strong getting stronger!!!!!