[Intro - Haunted Piano, Distant Violin] [Spoken] The fairground should've been empty. Should've been. Then the lights came on. [Verse 1] I saw the tents go up By the muddy fairground gate Painted smiles across the boards With rust around the chains The popcorn man was gone But the coins still lined the tray And every crooked finger Pointed me the same damn way Something moved behind the canvas Something laughed behind the lights I heard the midway breathing Like it knew I'd come tonight [Pre-Chorus] Hold your breath Don't look back Hear the footsteps On the tracks One more step Then you'll know You were always Headed for the show [Chorus] SEE THE BLOODY CLOWNS! FEEL THE PULL! OF THE CANNIBAL ACROBATS! RUN FOR A MOMENT! THEN TURN AROUND— THE RINGMASTER'S AT YOUR BACK! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! WHERE THE LIGHTS STAY RED AND THE DEAD DON'T GO! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! ONCE YOU STEP BENEATH THE BIG TOP— THERE'S NOWHERE LEFT TO GO! [Verse 2] The clown with the cracked red grin Kept a rose inside his glove The tightrope twins kept laughing With their teeth all stained with rust The lion wore a golden tooth And chains around its jaw Then the spotlight found the center And I finally saw... The ringmaster. [Short Pause] Well. Fuck. [Pre-Chorus] Hold your breath Don't look back Hear the drumroll Start to crack One more step Now you know Why nobody Leaves the show [Chorus] SEE THE BLOODY CLOWNS! FEEL THE PULL! OF THE CANNIBAL ACROBATS! RUN FOR A MOMENT! THEN TURN AROUND— THE RINGMASTER'S AT YOUR BACK! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! WHERE THE LIGHTS STAY RED AND THE DEAD DON'T GO! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! ONCE YOU STEP BENEATH THE BIG TOP— THERE'S NOWHERE LEFT TO GO! [Bridge - Piano and Violin] [Spoken] Every circus has rules. Don't touch the animals. Don't cross the ropes. Don't wander behind the tents. And whatever you do... don't piss off the ringmaster. [Pause] I may have broken all four. [Breakdown] BLOODY! CLOWNS! CANNIBAL! ACTS! TEETH IN THE DARK AND A KNIFE AT YOUR BACK! LIGHTS! DOWN! DRUMROLL! LOUD! THE RINGMASTER'S HERE— NOW BOW TO THE CROWD! WELCOME! TO! THE! BIG! TOP! [Final Chorus] SEE THE BLOODY CLOWNS! FEEL THE PULL! OF THE CANNIBAL ACROBATS! RUN IF YOU WANT! BUT THE EXIT SIGN KEEPS POINTING RIGHT FUCKING BACK! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! WHERE THE VIOLIN SCREAMS AND THE RED LIGHTS GLOW! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! WELCOME TO THE SHOW! THE RINGMASTER SMILES— AND THE CURTAIN DROPS! [Outro - Solo Haunted Piano] [Spoken] Ladies and gentlemen... You probably should've stayed home.
