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Bonnie Raitt — Too Long at the Fair
Album: Give It Up
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 516









Released: 1972
Length: 2:54
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Jesus cried, wept and died
I guess he went up to heaven
I've been downtown such a long, long time
I'll never make it home by seven
Won't you come & take me home
I've been too long at the fair
And, lord, I just can't stand it anymore
Well I went down to chason's
Walked 'til my feet got sore
I never knew what laughin' was
'til you walked out the door
Won't you come and take me home
I've been too long at the fair
And, lord, I just can't stand it anymore
Well, you can give my soul to abraham
Give my soul to saul
Give my bones to canada
My feet they don't hurt at all
I don't know who made the highway
I guess that's just my pride
But I have heard the prince of darkness
On his charger ride
The silver blade is gleamin'
The scales are in his hands
I swear another night is fallin',
Don't you lose another man
Won't you come and take me home
I've been too long at the fair
And, lord, I just can't stand it anymore
Comments (58)add comment
 paul28 wrote:

Does anyone know what this song is about?



Malaise.
Posted 1 month ago by birdland    [ Reply ]
Wow, a solid 9 to me, not just because of the bass at the beginning.
Posted 1 year ago by Pitjes    [ Reply ]
Does anyone know what this song is about?
Posted 2 years ago by paul28    [ Reply ]
So beautiful
Posted 5 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
Bonnie's album cover here looks like about 40% of the graduation photos in my senior high scool yearbook.
Posted 7 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
I been to long at the fair,
yeah it's happened to all of us 
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 modest_mouse wrote:
The voice in this song reminds me at Carole King.

 
I had a similar reaction—said to myself "this sounds like a Carole King number"
Posted 8 years ago by dsd    [ Reply ]
 ddog wrote:

The beautiful voice of a 23 year old Bonnie!

 
Was not certain is was her singing until I checked.
The guitar is easily identifiable as Bonnie. 
Posted 8 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]
 Geecheeboy wrote:
She sounds very young. Wow. Pre-rasp.

 
The beautiful voice of a 23 year old Bonnie!
Posted 8 years ago by ddog    [ Reply ]
excellent selection from this album.
 
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 cherylg4 wrote:
Just think—this is from 1973, a year when the likes of Debbie Boone were topping the pop charts....

 
lovely Bonnie still quality jammin'

oh it's a lovely world
Posted 8 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
used to play this song / album a lot. so nice.
Posted 9 years ago by blkstd    [ Reply ]
A beautiful song.  I wasn't sure if this was a Bonnie Raitt original or a cover so just checked.  it was written by a fellow named Joel Zoss.  Personally I've not heard of him but it looks like he released an album around this time (1975).  Nice find by Bonnie Raitt.
Posted 9 years ago by Bat    [ Reply ]
 modest_mouse wrote:
The voice in this song reminds me at Carole King.

 

HUH? Carole is/was always raspy and at times shrill. Not the best voice to listen to...
Posted 9 years ago by Aud    [ Reply ]
love love love Ms Bonnie! Splendid artist
Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 msymmes wrote:
Give my bones to Canada?

Yup. It's in the lyrics. 

 
Yes, I caught that.  Huh?  1972.....  so that was an indirect reference to the Vietnam War?

Speaking of which.... Thanks again for sending some of your best, brightest and most original north during that period.  
Posted 10 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Give my bones to Canada?

Yup. It's in the lyrics. 
Posted 10 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
Bonnie Raitt is my favorite...
Posted 11 years ago by dragancvetkovic    [ Reply ]
 Geecheeboy wrote:
She sounds very young. Wow. Pre-rasp.



 
Totally agree.  But still no mistaking her voice. 
I wasn't familiar with this song.  It is a lovely treat on a rainy morning. 
Posted 11 years ago by Middleton    [ Reply ]
She sounds very young. Wow. Pre-rasp.


Posted 11 years ago by Geecheeboy    [ Reply ]
Made me think it might be Michelle Malone for a sec...but, no, rather someone SHE sounds like...Bonnie's graced and blessed us for a long lovely time, and it's so good to be reminded of it; thanks, RP!
Posted 11 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
For some reason I've taken Bonnie Raitfor granted but this song is lovely.
Posted 11 years ago by iTuner    [ Reply ]
The voice in this song reminds me at Carole King.
Posted 12 years ago by modest_mouse    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:

Oh, I have that one!  It's really excellent - I love "Your Sweet And Shiny Eyes" - so sloppy and fun...

Your sweet and shiny eyes are like the stars above Laredo
Like meat and potatoes to me,
In my sweet dreams we are
In a bar - and it's my birthday! -
Drinking salty margaritas with Fernando...... {#Sunny}
 
I, too, have loved Bonnie's music for decades, but, I've never heard her do this song before. Where was I? She sounds so young here!
Sure hope Bill will play more early music from Bonnie.
BTW, Cynaera, when you say "Oh, I have that one!" does that mean that you are still playing vinyl?

Posted 12 years ago by meinthecorner    [ Reply ]
Saw her a couple of years ago with Marc Broussard.  She looked and sounded like an Angel from Montgomery.
Posted 12 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of a long time ago, a beautiful dark curly haired gal and a wonderful budding romance that I sure should have followed east...hope she is doing fine all these years.
Posted 13 years ago by mfcrowe    [ Reply ]
She really put out some great albums around this time. Fantastic. It's been way too long since I've played this album. Guess I'll go dig it out and spin it. Love Bonnie.
Posted 13 years ago by gatorade    [ Reply ]
Always loved this tune of Bonnie's - played it often in my days of college radio (the mighty KUCR, 10 watts of wonder smothering the UC Riverside campus in the 1970's).
Posted 13 years ago by paulmack    [ Reply ]
 Pyro wrote:
The youthful clarity in her voice is amazing, and, like you, I ALSO love the older more raspy voice. Her slide guitar is admired by many pro musicians. She is a goddess!
 
{#Yes} !

Posted 13 years ago by victoryluna    [ Reply ]
Ain't it great that there's a whole new generation of old blues singers?{#Bananajam}
Posted 13 years ago by haresfur    [ Reply ]
 JJAB wrote:
Want a fun early album? Listen to Home Plate... Mid-70's.
 

Oh yeah!  Great stuff on that one. 
Posted 14 years ago by Rooney    [ Reply ]
I had this album and loved it when it first came out.  The songs are terrific ...and became a life-long fan of hers.  {#Wave}  A "10". 
Posted 14 years ago by Rooney    [ Reply ]
 JJAB wrote:
Want a fun early album? Listen to Home Plate... Mid-70's.
 
Oh, I have that one!  It's really excellent - I love "Your Sweet And Shiny Eyes" - so sloppy and fun...

Your sweet and shiny eyes are like the stars above Laredo
Like meat and potatoes to me,
In my sweet dreams we are
In a bar - and it's my birthday! -
Drinking salty margaritas with Fernando...... {#Sunny}
Posted 14 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 Randomax wrote:
said it before...and those of you that have seen my comments know I will say it again....she was SOOOO good....back BEFORE the grammy
 
Yup

Posted 14 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
said it before...and those of you that have seen my comments know I will say it again....she was SOOOO good....back BEFORE the grammy
Posted 14 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]
 daveesh wrote:
great to hear her early stuff... i bet most people don't even realize that she's been around this long.
 
True!

I always suspected it, but didn't realize she was so good back then.

Love me some Bonnie!  {#Sunny}
Posted 14 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
I used to listen to this album all the time in College in the 70s/80s.  I have forgotten all about it.  I still have the LP.  Need to get this digitized ASAP!  The whole album is incredible!

Posted 14 years ago by trailhead    [ Reply ]
Thanks for adding this song... brings back great memories of listening to her early music in college. This whole album shows her raw and great talent, before she became sober and turned into a huge commercial success. (Glad she became sober, though!)
Posted 14 years ago by jinthefields    [ Reply ]

Bonnie Raitt - "Too Long at the Fair" Live (1976)

Posted 15 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]

Bonnie Raitt - "Angel from Montgomery " Live (1974)

!That is Bonnie in 1974 with what was known as The Woodstock Band...featuring Freebo on Bass and an unknown Will MacFarlane on guitar...Everyone sings the harmonies...I saw them on this tour at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, and Bonnie had just been "Done Wrong" by a man and sang all the sad songs...They cleared the tables at last call and she kept singing and crying till 4 AM...There is a version here on you tube of her singing it with John Prine....."    throwbackny69

"This is the best version of this song she's ever done. So pure and youthful. "

"Brilliant version of a John Prine classic...even if she does mix up the words 'thunder' and 'lightning'. For some reason her version always reversed it from the original. " 

"It doen't sound like Prine's voice to me, but it is hard to tell. "  TEB1952

 


Posted 15 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Want a fun early album? Listen to Home Plate... Mid-70's.
Posted 19 years ago by JJAB    [ Reply ]
daveesh wrote:
great to hear her early stuff... i bet most people don't even realize that she's been around this long.
And many might not realized what a great slide/blues guitarist she is. Feature more!
Posted 19 years ago by chinacat    [ Reply ]
I'll bet you're right. She has paid some dues!
Posted 19 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
great to hear her early stuff... i bet most people don't even realize that she's been around this long.
Posted 19 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
Good stuff
Posted 19 years ago by RockinBlueVoodoo    [ Reply ]
Thanks, Bill! And I'd bet your listeners would love to hear the title song from this album, too.
Posted 19 years ago by radiomao    [ Reply ]
Note no one or two ratings. Wow!
Posted 20 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
skindy wrote:
Wow! I've been on a Bonnie kick lately, and have just recently been dying to hear some of her early stuff. This was great timing! you can hear the youthful clarity in her voice... it's wonderful (though, yes, her raspy-edged later voice is phenomenal too). Great pick, Bill!
The youthful clarity in her voice is amazing, and, like you, I ALSO love the older more raspy voice. Her slide guitar is admired by many pro musicians. She is a goddess!
Posted 20 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Bonnie "shines like a ruby in a black man's ear".
Posted 20 years ago by Spliff    [ Reply ]
Wow! I've been on a Bonnie kick lately, and have just recently been dying to hear some of her early stuff. This was great timing! you can hear the youthful clarity in her voice... it's wonderful (though, yes, her raspy-edged later voice is phenomenal too). Great pick, Bill!
Posted 20 years ago by skindy    [ Reply ]
Leslie wrote:
Actually Bonnie didn't write this song (Joel Zoss did), but yes her early work is pretty amazing. You should check out her very first self-titled album which was released in 1971. It was recorded in a barn and she covers a lot of old blues tunes on it. She does a great job covering Stephen Still's Bluebird. Great stuff!
You are so right about the self titled first album. The production value isn't that great, because as you said, it was literally recorded in a BARN. However, her band is phenomenal, including TUBA used for bass lines! But her young and beautiful voice just gives me shivers! (She still gives me chills!)
Posted 20 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
Dirktooth wrote:
Deeply personal songwriting, but with the bone-deep tiredness of the blues.....and this was her early on? Wow......
Actually Bonnie didn't write this song (Joel Zoss did), but yes her early work is pretty amazing. You should check out her very first self-titled album which was released in 1971. It was recorded in a barn and she covers a lot of old blues tunes on it. She does a great job covering Stephen Still's Bluebird. Great stuff!
Posted 20 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
Deeply personal songwriting, but with the bone-deep tiredness of the blues.....and this was her early on? Wow......
Posted 20 years ago by Dirktooth    [ Reply ]
Just think--this is from 1973, a year when the likes of Debbie Boone were topping the pop charts....
Posted 20 years ago by cherylg4    [ Reply ]
This isn't the raspy/edgy-voiced Bonnie I so love to hear, but she is Godlike nonetheless. <-o<
Posted 20 years ago by kimmer    [ Reply ]
The main Reason I listen to Rp is to open my senses to other music and learn, I am glad the Bonnie Rate was included on your list and this song is beautiful
Posted 20 years ago by masterhead    [ Reply ]
I'd have never guessed before I clicked on "playlist:" Bonnie Raitt. Lovely stuff! I had no idea...........
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
OMG! This is one of Bonnie's best songs from an incredible album. I'm thrilled it's on the RP playlist.
Posted 20 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]