"(Have I Stayed) Too Long At The Fair?" was first recorded in 1957 by Patti Page, but Barbra Streisand's 1963 version — the one heard in the series finale of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" — is probably the most well-known. The lyrics allude to the singer's life in show business and include some lines which refer directly to Miriam's life as an entertainer, specifically as a comedian.
"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?" Midge's lonely obsession with fashion even comes into play in the song with the lines "I bought me blue ribbons to tie up my hair / But I couldn't find anybody to care."
Throughout her life, Miriam placed career success over her relationships with nearly everyone who dared to get close to her. Those decisions ultimately left her in a giant empty house with nobody but her paid staff members, planning never-ending tour dates and watching game shows with her one remaining friend, who is thousands of miles away. Midge definitely stayed too long at the fair, and in the process left behind everyone other than Susie; including her children, her parents, Joel, and several other husbands.
It's a sad way to close a triumphant story, and makes "(Have I Stayed) Too Long at the Fair" a perfect soundtrack for the ending of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."
