Don’t look past the treeline Don’t follow the glow If you hear the calliope Baby, don’t go Someone swears they’re not afraid Someone laughs too loud Funny thing about the dark It loves a pretty mouth There’s always one who looks away When the painted faces grin But the ones who swear they’re not afraid Are the first ones invited in He came walking through the smoke With a red coat dragging low Boots all muddy, gloves all black And a smile like a sideshow Moonlight caught in his dirty hair Ash and glitter on his skin He tipped his hat with a crooked little bow And said, “Let the games begin” Oh, the flames burn low And the shadows clap He writes your name On a carnival map You see me, don’t you? Do you wanna run? Do you wanna run? You fear me, don’t you? But you’re having fun Aren’t you having fun? Round and round where the red lights glow Step too close and you join the show Everybody says they’re not afraid Till the circus psycho calls their name He smells like smoke and gasoline Cheap cologne and candy sin One hand cold on your trembling throat One hand pulling you in He calls you handsome, calls you brave Calls you darling in the dark Says, “I only bite the boys who stare Too long at my painted heart” There’s a tent beyond the pine trees With no door and no way back Just a velvet rope, a silver blade And laughter down the track Oh, the drums beat slow And the moon turns red He leans in close To the side of your head You see me, don’t you? Do you wanna run? Do you wanna run? You fear me, don’t you? But you’re having fun Aren’t you having fun? Round and round where the red lights glow Step too close and you join the show Everybody says they’re not afraid Till the circus psycho calls their name He said, “Boy, you look lonely Boy, you look scared Boy, you look holy With your throat laid bare” He said, “I can make you famous I can make you scream I can make the whole damn circus Bow down to your dream” Painted smile Pretty blade Step right up Don’t be afraid Painted smile Pretty blade Kiss the clown Join the parade You see me, don’t you? Do you wanna run? Do you wanna run? You fear me, don’t you? But you’re having fun Aren’t you having fun? You see me, don’t you? Do you wanna run? Do you wanna run? You fear me, don’t you? But you’re having fun Aren’t you having fun? Round and round where the red lights glow Step too close and you join the show Everybody says they’re not afraid Till the circus psycho calls their name Don’t look past the treeline Don’t follow the glow If you hear him laughing You already know You saw him, didn’t you? You wanted to run You feared him, didn’t you? But you had your fun
