The only one that comes to mind for me is Coney Island by Death Cab for Cutie.
David Bowies Memory of a Free Festival.
According to Wikipedia: “The track was written as a homage to the Free Festival, organised by the Beckenham Arts Lab, which was held at Croydon Road Recreational Ground in Beckenham on August 16, 1969.”
Keith Urban has a wonderful song called “Till Summer Comes Around” about a summer love at a boardwalk carnival:
Another long summer’s come and gone
I don’t know why it always ends this way
The boardwalk’s quiet and the carnival rides
Are as empty as my broken heart tonight
and:
I got a job working at the old park pier
And every summer now for five long years
I grease the gears, fix the lights, tighten bolts, straighten the tracks
And I count the days 'til you just might come back
and:
Oh and I close my eyes and you and I
Are stuck on a ferris wheel rockin with the motion
Hand in hand we cried and laughed
I love that song!
Cal, I actually went to Freedomland when I was kid!!!
Warner Bros. cartoon fans may recognize The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down, but might be surprised to ind out it has lyrics.
Likewise, there’s Love Rollercoaster by the Ohio Players, remade by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Funland at the Beach by the Dead Kennedys, which features a sabotaged roller coaster and has the line “Crushed little kids adorn the boardwalk.”
The band The Gaslight Anthem have “The Patient Ferris Wheel”.
Helter Skelter, about an amusement park slide.
I was trying to think of that one!
Carnival of Sorts (Boxcars) - R.E.M.
But of course, not literally about a carnival.
Stuart by The Dead Milkmen contains the lines:
I first became aware of this about ten years ago, the summer
my oldest boy, Bill Jr. died. You know that carnival comes into
town every year? Well this year they came through with a ride
called The Mixer. The man said, “Keep your head, and arms, inside
the Mixer at all times.” But Bill Jr, he was a DAAAREDEVIL, just
like his old man. He was leaning out saying “Hey everybody,
Look at me! Look at me!” Pow! He was decapitated! They found
his head over by the snow cone concession.
Richard and Linda Thompson’s “Wall of Death” has a number of references to amusement park rides but I’m not sure it’s about any specific place and may actually be more about a fair or circus than an amusement park.
“You aren’t going nowhere when you ride on the carousel
Oh you may be strong but what’s the good of ringing a bell
The Switchback will make you crazy
Beware of the bearded lady
Oh let me take my chances on the Wall of Death”
Fountains of Wayne’s Red Dragon Tattoo begins:
Monday gonna take a ride on
The N train down to Coney Island
Theme Park by The Tubes.
Captain Dan by Weird Al.
That’s Skipper Dan (YouTube)
Penny Arcade, Roy Orbison
Would you count The Carny by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds?
The Smiths’ Rusholme Ruffians.
I don’t think there’s a permanent fairground in Rusholme (part of the Manchester area) but the song is about the goings on during the last night of a presumably traveling fair. Parachutes and whirling waltzers are mentioned.