Stayed too long at the fair

Can anyone tell me the origin and meaning of the phrase "stayed too long at the fair". Thank you, Susan.

There's a song. But I don't know if that is the original use:

I wanted the music to play on forever
Have I stayed too long at the fair?
I wanted the clown to be constantly clever
Have I stayed too long at the fair?
I brought me blue ribbons to tie up my hair
But I couldn't find anybody to care
The merry-go-round is beginning to slow now
Have I stayed too long at the fair?
There is nothing to win,
And there's no one to want me...

It is a familiar phrase. Here's another song from Bonnie Raitt's album of 1972; Give it up, Too long at the fair by Joel Zoss

Jesus cried, wept and died
I guess he went up to heaven
I've been downtown such a long, long time
I'll never make it home by seven
Won't you come & take me home
I've been too long at the fair
And, lord, I just can't stand it anymore

I presume it means the person has spent too long at pleasure, perhaps like Ciderella.


Thanks! I am familiar with the Bonnie Raitt song, but not the other, so that was interesting. I thought perhaps the phrase meant that staying too long - at anything - lessens the luster - like too much of anything is no good. Close - no cigar. Again, many thanks, Susan

I agree with you.