**[Verse 1]** I stopped the car, got out, looked around Somewhere along the way, I lost the road I found Took a wrong turn, now I don't know where I am Got a ticket in my pocket and a show I gotta catch Maybe I should ask somebody There's a stranger standing down the road "Excuse me, can you tell me Where the circus is supposed to go?" He looks at me and shakes his head "There's no circus around here, son Maybe you got your days mixed up Maybe you're looking in the wrong direction." Now I'm really lost, I see a house Sitting back beyond the trees I walk up slowly, knock on the door It swings open before I leave **[Verse 2]** The door creaks as I push it wider A woman jumps back, "Who are you?" "I'm sorry, ma'am, I think I'm lost There's a circus here, or so I knew." She smiles and says, "I'm going too But I won't be leaving for a while Why don't you come inside and wait? You look like you could use a smile." She invites me in and offers coffee I say, "Yeah, that'd be nice." She disappears behind the doorway I hear metal scrape and something grind I sit there waiting, watching shadows Stretching slowly across the floor Then she comes back with a steaming cup Like nothing strange had happened before "One sugar?" "Yeah, just one." She smiles and hands it back to me I take a sip and force a smile "Mmm... that's good coffee." **[Pre-Chorus]** She looks at me like she knows me Like she's seen me somewhere before "How are you feeling?" "Fine..." I say But something doesn't feel right anymore My heartbeat starts to hammer Like four cups of coffee in my veins She tilts her head and smiles at me "Are you feeling strange?" **[Chorus]** "Maybe you should lie down You've had a long drive We're not leaving anytime soon There's plenty of time." I set the coffee on the table Then I notice something strange The spoon is turning colors And I don't know why What's on it? What's that stain? Something here ain't right I should get up I should walk out I should leave tonight **[Verse 3]** "Hold on," she says behind me "Where do you think you're going? We're going to the show together You said you wanted to see it." "I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well I think I need some air." She moves toward me, slowly smiling There's something different in her stare "Let me take a look at you." She reaches out and grabs my arm I try to pull away from her But my body won't respond My legs won't move My hands won't move I'm screaming but there's no sound She drags me to a wooden chair And chains my body down Now I'm terrified Now I understand The circus wasn't somewhere else It was always where I am **[Bridge]** "What are you doing?" I scream inside my head "Don't worry," she whispers "This won't take long." "Long for what?" She smiles again "You'll be here for quite a while I hope you didn't leave somebody Waiting for you tonight." She walks away The lights go dim I hear the front door close Then somewhere down the hallway I hear laughter start to grow **[Final Chorus]** "Maybe you should lie down..." Her voice is in my head "There's nothing you can do now You should've stayed in bed." I look down at the chains I look around the room Pictures line the walls Of people who've come too soon And suddenly I see it Written underneath the lights: **THE SHOW BEGINS AT MIDNIGHT** **[Outro]** Oh my God... what have I done? Why did I come here? I should've turned around I should've listened when they said There's no circus here... But somewhere in the darkness I hear the crowd begin to cheer. **[Final Whisper]** *Ladies and gentlemen...* *The show is about to begin.*
