The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze

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title=The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze
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image_size=
caption= The subject of the song, Jules Léotard
composer=Gaston Lyle, Alfred Lee
lyricist=George Leybourne
published=1867
written=
language=English
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original_artist=
recorded_by=

"The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze", also known as "The Man on the Flying Trapeze", is a very well-known 19th century popular song about a flying trapeze circus performer, Jules Léotard. The melody and words of its central refrain are instantly recognisable:

:"He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease,":"That daring young man on the flying trapeze."

The song was first published in 1867, with words written by the British lyricist and singer, George Leybourne, with music by Gaston Lyle, and arranged by Alfred Lee. The lyrics were based on the phenomenal success of trapeze artist Jules Léotard. The 3/4 time tune may have been based on Jacques Offenbach's "Le Papillon", Act 2, Scene 1.Fact|date=July 2008

Literature

The following century, the song inspired the breakthrough 1934 short story "The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze" by William Saroyan. The film "Man on the Flying Trapeze" came out in 1935, starring W. C. Fields and Mary Brian.

Recordings

Comedian Walter O'Keefe was the first to record the song, in 1934. It became his theme song whenever he appeared on radio or television. It was also recorded by Don Redman & His Orchestra (1936), Eddie Cantor, Burl Ives, Cliff "Ukelele Ike" Edwards, Spike Jones (with lyrics thoroughly trashed), Ian Whitcomb, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Crispin Hellion Glover, and Bruce Springsteen (with a couple of F-bombs inserted), among others.

Cinema

A version was performed by the Little Rascals as the "International Silver String Submarine Band" in the episode "Mike Fright".(1934)It was also memorably sung by the passengers on the bus in the 1934 Frank Capra film "It Happened One Night". American Actor, musician Crispin Glover covered the song on his 1989 album, "The Big Problem ≠ The Solution. The Solution = Let It Be". The song was also the basis of the 1934 Popeye the Sailor musical short, aptly titled "The Man on the Flying Trapeze."

Published Versions

* July 11, 1874 broadside [cite web |title=Flying Trapeze |url=http://www.nls.uk/broadsides/broadside.cfm/id/15112/transcript/1 |format=Copy of Lyrics from a July 11, 1874 Broadside from the National Library of Scotland |accessdate=2008-03-21]
* Rise Up Singing page 80

References