circus circus
start the show
bring up the lights
fill up each row
upon the flying trapeze you go
swinging high and swinging low
walk the tightrope center ring
carefully teeter-tottering
without a net below to save
should you tumble to your grave
then it's time to send in the clown
put on your happy face
cover your frown
painted smile easily smears
caked on happiness streaked in tears
isn't it rich, isn't it grand
jumping through hoops at a command
now bring out the beast
show them its fangs
as against the bars of its cage it bangs
no one knows that it's already tame
a broken-down stuffed dog, old and lame
nobody saw behind the act
until the funhouse mirror cracked
the tightrope broke
the trapeze snapped
the music stopped
the tent collapsed
the people turned away to scoff
didn't look back when the lights went off
and the circus faded into a dream
the sound of laughter became a scream
as the clown was left alone in the dust
watching the ferris wheel turn to rust