[Verse 1] They rolled in on tiny wheels From the fairground lot Chrome teeth in a painted grin Like they’d learned to talk Red bows tied to steel necks White gloves stained black They bowed so politely Then they never came back [Verse 2] One had a cracked balloon hand One had a blade in his shoe One kept clapping slow Like he knew what to do Their cheeks were candy-bright Their eyes were empty glass If you hear that squeaky laugh Baby, do not ask [Pre-Chorus] They say come closer They say don’t run You see that smile It’s already begun Run for the back door Run for your life When the honking starts It’s too late tonight [Chorus] Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose They came to play Then they came to cut Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose If they say your name Baby, don’t look up Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose Clap-clap-clap Then the knives come out Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose Laugh too hard And they’ll hear you out [Verse 3] At the midway mirror They showed my face A grin too wide In the wrong old place They tossed me a ticket Said “winner tonight” Then one spun his head And the hall went white Their shoes hit the floor Like a funeral drum Every little joke Was a warning sign come [Pre-Chorus] They say come closer They say don’t run You see that smile It’s already begun Run for the back door Run for your life When the honking starts It’s too late tonight [Chorus] Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose They came to play Then they came to cut Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose If they say your name Baby, don’t look up Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose Clap-clap-clap Then the knives come out Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose Laugh too hard And they’ll hear you out [Bridge] [Whispered] There’s a party in the dark There’s a smile in the hall There’s a hand on the latch And a crawl in the wall I saw sparks in their gums I saw blood on the lace Then the whole parade turned And it came for my face [Breakdown] Ha-ha Don’t breathe Ha-ha Don’t run Painted mouth Steel hands No mercy No fun [Final Chorus] Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose They came to play Then they came to cut Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose If they say your name Baby, don’t look up Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose Clap-clap-clap Then the knives come out Red nose, red nose Run from the red nose When the laugh starts That’s the end, no doubt [Outro] Toys on the floor Blood on the grin When the circus comes Don’t let it in
