Music Video
Music Video
Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Roy Orbison
Vocals
Elvis Costello
Vocals
Bruce Springsteen
Vocals
James Burton
Guitar
T Bone Burnett
Guitar
JD Souther
Guitar
Tom Waits
Guitar
Alex Acuña
Percussion
Ron Tutt
Drums
Mike Utley
Keyboards
Glenn D. Hardin
Piano
Pavel Farkas
Violin
Ezra Kliger
Violin
Jerry Scheff
Bass
Jimbo Ross
Viola
Peter Hatch
Viola
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Declan Patrick MacManus
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
T Bone Burnett
Producer
Barbara Orbison
Executive Producer
Lyrics
I sat there alone upon the Ferris wheel
A pastel colored carriage in the air
I thought you'd leave me dangling for a little while
A silly twist upon a childish dare
Below I saw you whispering to another man
Who held the lever that could bring me down
He'd stop the world from turning at your command
It's always something cruel that laughter drowns
And I'm up while the dawn is breaking
Even though my heart is aching
I should be drinking a toast
To absent friends
Instead of these comedians
I can hardly hear the music from the carousel
The wind picks up, the carriage starts sway
As one by one the lights go out
It's closing time
I see you take his hand and walk away
Walk away
They say that you will always be the last to know
They say that all that glitters is not gold
It's not just that you're never coming back to me
It's the bitter way that I was told
And I'm up while the dawn is breaking
Even though my heart is aching
I should be drinking a toast
To absent friends
Instead of these comedians
Written by: Declan Patrick MacManus


