Lyrics to
My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist

This version of My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist was released by The Decemberists in 2001.

Our The Decemberists Songs profile has My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist lyrics from 2001 and most if not all of the lyrics by The Decemberists that we have here at Decade Lyrics.

Here's more interesting things in songs and lyrics tied to The Decemberists or about the 2000s in general.

My mother was a Chinese trapeze artist
In pre-war Paris
Smuggling bombs for the underground.
And she met my father
At a fete in Aix-en-Provence.
He was disguised as a Russian cadet
in the employ of the Axis.
And there in the half-light
Of the provincial midnight
To a lone concertina
They drank in cantinas
And toasted to Edith Piaf
And the fall of the Reich.

My sister was born in a hovel in Burgundy
And left for the cattle
But later was found by a communist
Who’d deserted his ranks
To follow his dream
To start up a punk rock band in South Carolina.
I get letters sometimes.
They bought a plantation
She weeds the tobacco
He offends the nation
And they write, “Don’t be a stranger, y’hear.”
“Sincerely, your sister.”

So my parents had me
To the disgust of the prostitutes
On a bed in a brothel.
Surprisingly raised with tender care
‘Til the money got tight
And they bet me away
To a blind brigadier in a game
Of high stakes canasta.
But he made me a sailor
On his brigadier ship fleet.
I know every yardarm
From main mast to jib sheet.
But sometimes I long to be landlocked
And to work in a bakery.

Want more lyrics and songs by The Decemberists?

The Decemberists has released many songs over the years besides My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist. The Decemberists released songs from 2001 to 2005 spanning across albums like 5 Songs, Castaways And Cutouts, Her Majesty, The Tain, and Picaresque. Decade Lyrics has over lyrics & songs by The Decemberists.

If you're a fan of popular 2000s songs looking for more songs from 2001 or the 2000s overall, you've come to the right place!

More Songs & Lyrics by The Decemberists

Visit our The Decemberists profile for more The Decemberists songs, lyrics & info!