Intro: | GC | GCDG
The Machinist climbs his ferris wheel like a brave
CDG
And the fireeater's lyin' in a pool of sweat victim of the heatwave,
CDGC
Behind the tent the hired hand tightens his legs on the sword swallowers blade,
G
Circus town's on the shortwave
CDG
Well the runway lies ahead like a great false dawn,
CDG
Fat lady, big mama, Missy Bimbo sits in her chair and yawns,
CDG
And the man-beast lies in his cage sniffin' popcorn
CDGC
And the midget licks his fingers and suffers Missy Bimbo's scorn
G
Circus town's been born.
CG
Whoa and a press roll drummer go, ballerina to-and-fro cartwheelin' up on that tightrope,
C
With a cannon blast, lightin' flash, movin' fast through the tent, Mars bent,
G
He's gonna miss his fall,
D
Oh God save the human cannonball.
CG
And the flying Zambini's watch Marguarita do her neck twist,
CAmD
And the ringmaster gets the crowd to count along: 95, 96, 97.
CDEm
A ragged suitcase in his hand, he steals silently away from the circus grounds,
CD
And the highway's haunted by the carnival sounds
EmDC
They dance like a great greasepaint ghost on the wind,
BmEmC
A man in baggy pants, a lonely face, a crazy grin,
GFC
Runnin' home to some small Ohio town
EmGD
Jesus, send some sweet women to save all your clowns
CB
And circus boy dances like a monkey on barbed wire,
CDG
And the barker romances with a junkie, she's got a flat tire,
CDGC
And now the elephants dance real funky and the band plays like a jungle fire,
G
Circus town's on the live wire.
C
And the strong man Sampson lifts the midget, little Tiny Tim, up on his shoulders, way up
GCGCG
And carries carries him on down the midway past the kids, past the sailors, to his dimly lit trailer
CGDsusD
And the ferris wheel turns and turns like it ain't ever gonna stop,
DsusDDsus
And the circus boss leans over and whispers in the little boy's ear,
CG
Hey son you want to try the big top?
CG
All aboard, Nebraska's our next stop.
GCDAmEmBmFDsusE|--3---0---2---0---0---2---1---3----|
B|--0---1---3---1---0---3---1---3----|
G|--0---0---2---2---0---4---2---2----|
D|--0---2---0---2---2---4---3---0----|
A|--2---3-------0---2---2---3--------|
E|--3---------------0-------1--------|