[Intro] [low vocal register Finger snaps] You feel the air Turn copper Thick You taste old rust On your tongue [Verse 1] Striped tents breathing Like beasts in sleep Painted grins peel From rotten wood You hear soft shoes Drag in the sawdust They already know You taste like fear [Chorus] The clowns are coming You hear them hum your name Boots in a crooked rhythm Closer with every shake of the frame The clowns are coming Their red eyes never blink They’ll pour you into a paper cup And smile while you sink [Verse 2] You pass a booth With prizes nailed Glass eyes follow Each nervous step They whisper bets On how you’ll scream White gloves flex And snap in time [Pre-Chorus] [chanted backing vocals Gritty doo-wop] Step right up You can’t step back One way in And a velvet-black track [Chorus] The clowns are coming [Bridge] They’ll paint your face With bruised-blue shades Tie your wrists In balloon-bright chains They’ll juggle teeth You swear are yours Count down slow Then add more doors They’ll feed you jokes You choke You laugh Till ribs are drums For their puppet choir They’ll teach your bones To bend on cue You’ll dance for them When they’re done with you [Chorus] The clowns are coming [Outro] [a cappella Stacked harmonies] Hush now Hush They’re under your bed Three soft taps Inside your head You close your eyes But you still see the ring They lick their lips And tug the string
