Album: Globe of Frogs (1988)
Play Video
  • I was walking up Sixth Avenue when Balloon Man came right up to me
    He was round and fat and spherical
    With the biggest grin I'd ever seen
    He bounced on up toward me
    But before we could be introduced
    He blew up very suddenly
    I guess his name was probably Bruce

    And I laughed like I always do
    And I cried like I cried for you
    And Balloon Man blew up in my hand

    He spattered me with tomatoes, Hummus, chick peas
    And some strips of skin
    So I made a right on 44th
    And I washed my hands when I got in

    And it rained like a slow divorce
    And I wish I could ride a horse
    And Balloon Man blew up in my hand

    I was walking up Sixth Avenue when
    Balloon Man blew up in my face
    There were loads of them on Bryant Park
    So I didn't feel out of place
    There must have been a plague of them
    On the TV when I came home late
    They were guzzling marshmallows and
    They're jumping off the Empire State

    And I laughed like I always do
    And I cried like I cried for you
    And Balloon Man blew up in my hand
    Balloon Man blew up in my hand Writer/s: ROBYN HITCHCOCK
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • "heroin Chic" Le Freak from U.s.a.This is definitely not what the song's about but the first thing that came to mind when I heard this was drug mules swallowing heroin balloons for transport. Or, less darkly, inhaling nitrous oxide from party balloons.
  • Garagepsychfan from UsaI always interpreted it as that the balloon man (and the "plague of" other balloon men) were not regular humans that have balloons, but rather balloon-like beings. So, it's not a guy that has balloons and then he (inexplicably) explodes leaving the balloons behind -- it's that, as a balloon-like being, he himself "pops"! And he doesn't leave behind "only his balloons" -- he leaves behind hummus, chickpeas and some strips of skin. Yeah, weird, but that's Robyn.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Famous Singers' First Films

Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing

A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Scott Stapp

Scott StappSongwriter Interviews

The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Strange Magnetics

Strange MagneticsSong Writing

How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.