Single:
The Show Must Go On entered the Australian singles chart* on 18 February 1974 and peaked at #10. It was #62 on the Top 100 of 1974.
Album:
The song is on Silverbird which entered the Australian albums chart* on 25 February 1974 and peaked at #14.
Songwriters:
David Courtney, Leo Sayer
Producers:
David Courtney, Adam Faith
Record label of Australian release:
Chrysalis
*Kent Music Report / Australian Chart Book. See About.
Songfacts:
“The show must go on” is a show business expression meaning that no matter the circumstances, there must still be a performance. In the song, the singer is worn down from entertaining crowds that don’t care about him, and ready to call off the show. The song can be seen as a metaphor for life in general, but Sayer played it quite literally, often performing the song in a clown costume.
Sayer wrote this with his songwriting partner David Courtney and released it on his first album, Silverbird.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/leo-sayer/the-show-must-go-on
Lyrics:
Baby, although I chose this lonely life
It seems it’s strangling me now
All the wild men, big cigars, gigantic cars
They’re all laughing at me now
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 70s
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