Bette Midler

Songwriter: Nickolas Ashford Valerie Simpson

Producer: Aaron Russo Arif Mardin Lew Hahn

"Oh god, oh god
Dumping so early in the evening
I really didn't mean that
I really didn't mean that."
Above the ground, I'm lifted to the sky
And down like a tumbling weed I found myself stranded high and dry
A circus ride, oh, it only costs a dime
But if you wanna see the fireworks you might have to pay a lifetime
'Cause love is a carnival
With lots of laughs, wonderful rides and danger
But it feels so good
With rockets shootin' in your head
'round and 'round and 'round you go
Bang, you're dead, baby. Bang, you're dead, baby
Like a boomerang keeps twisting, twisting in your heart
You know the funny part of it is, you always end up where you start
You're headed for big clouds. Got the silver lining
But you're in for a big surprise
There's a river of tears behind it
'Cause love is a carnival
With lots of baubles, bangles and beads
Beware, beware, beware
It feels so good, feels so good
With rockets shootin' in your head
'round and 'round and 'round you go
Bang, you're dead, baby. Bang, you're dead, baby
Above the ground I'm lifted. Spininng, spinning, spinning out of control
Higher, higher, higher, higher, higher!
Above the ground I'm lifted, yeah, to the sky
And down like a tumbling weed I found myself stranded high and dry
A circus ride, you know it, it only costs a dime
But if you wanna see the fireworks you might have to pay
Hey, yeah, yeah, to the sky, high. And down like a tumbling weed
I found myself stranded, stranded
Bang, you're dead!

Bette Midler is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, comedienne and actress. Named in honor of Bette Davis, Midler’s career began performing off-broadway until she developed the stage persona The Divine Miss M while singing at the world-famous Continental Baths gay bathhouse. A pre-fame Barry Manilow, the venue’s in-house piano player, produced her Grammy-nominated debut album which scored three US top 40 singles including the Grammy-nominated “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”. Midler took home the Best New Artist Grammy that year, her first of three career wins.

Throughout the 1970s, Midler found further success with music, Broadway, television and film. The Rose, Midler’s 1979 acting debut, earned her both Oscar and Academy Award nominations, and its namesake song won her a Golden Globe and another Grammy – also giving Midler her first success overseas.

The early 1980s proved less successful for Midler with four under-performing singles and a box office flop with the film Jinxed. However, the second half of the decade would prove far more fruitful with a handful of very successful films including Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Ruthless People, Outrageous Fortune and Beaches, the latter featuring a chart-topping cover of “Wind Beneath My Wings” that won Midler her third Grammy and is considered one of the greatest songs in American film history.

more tracks from the album

Live at Last

From the album

Live at Last (1977)

Bette Midler popular songs

Bang You’re DeadBette Midler

Bette Midler

Live at Last