Yet another song I can gaze at the lyrics and don't quite get the message of this song. Can someone explain what they mean? (Good song, though)
Nothing is for certain
That's what the showman said
First you must open the curtain
And stand'em on their heads
There can be no inhibitions
No prima donna ways
If you want to pass the audition
And times is tough these days

Remember when Mr. Barnum
Presented Jenny Lind
They named a candy after her
A circus after him
End of my story
The rest is history
She in all of her glory
He lived quietly
He needed her, she needed him
As sure as the sky above
In a way it was for them
A lesson in love
A lesson in love

You look like the moonglow
That follows me home
Always makes me turn around
Won't leave me alone
First to come are the midgets
A monkey and a kid
Followed by those two one-armed jugglers
The ego and the id

Songs of the season
Apples of the sun
There is no rhyme or reason
Just a time for each and every one
Hang on Mr. Barnum
Hang on Jenny Lind
We will meet you in streets of gold
Where eternity begins
We will let it all hangout
Go hand in glove
Live was meant to live and learn
A lesson in love
A lesson in love




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[This message has been edited by DMD3 (edited November 24, 2003).]

From the liner notes for SONGBOOK:
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16. A LESSON IN LOVE

I was inspired by reading a natty little book on an airplane one day, a biography of Phineas T. Barnum. The song is sort of loosely arranged around his relationship with Jenny Lind, a Swedish singer who toured America in the late 1800s. I reach a long way back in these tunes, back into my personal memories, and sometimes back into history.

******************************************

There's a discussion of this on the newsgroup back on September 22 1997. Google "A Lesson in Love" +Lightfoot in the Google Groups box and it's the third thread down.

From the liner notes for SONGBOOK:
*******************************************

16. A LESSON IN LOVE

I was inspired by reading a natty little book on an airplane one day, a biography of Phineas T. Barnum. The song is sort of loosely arranged around his relationship with Jenny Lind, a Swedish singer who toured America in the late 1800s. I reach a long way back in these tunes, back into my personal memories, and sometimes back into history.

******************************************

There's a discussion of this on the newsgroup back on September 22 1997. Google "A Lesson in Love" +Lightfoot in the Google Groups box and it's the third thread down.

For more on Jenny Lind see http://www.oldekinstongazette.com/jenylind.htm