(Intro — Creaking music box. Distorted calliope. A barker's laugh pitching down into a growl. A voice, grinning.) I heard there's a carnival... But it ain't out there... It's in here... And the games never stop... (beat drops — slow, grinding, like a carousel from hell) --- (Verse 1) I heard that there's a carnival, music's fucking loud Lights are wonderful, they'll make your mama proud But no one makes it out, they welcome you with grins Once you're in, you'll never be the same again Let the fucking games begin I been living in this carnival since I was nine years old Every ride's a memory that I've never really told The carousel of thoughts spinning in my fucking skull The funhouse mirror showing me a face that's never whole They knock on my door when I'm feeling alone Calling in the night with a voice I've always known How could I ignore such a lovely fucking time When the ringmaster's been living in my mind --- (Pre-Chorus) Lights and prizes everywhere I look Anything to keep me fucking hooked Empty smiles everywhere I turn Not a single goddamn lesson learned --- (Chorus) Welcome to the carnival — the one inside my head Where the music never stops and the thoughts are painted red They welcome you with grins, but once you're fucking in You will never be the same, you will never leave again Let the games begin (Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm) Let the games begin (Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm) --- (Verse 2) You can see the show any time you like When you're feeling low, that's when they strike Knocking at your skull, calling in the night How could you ignore such a lovely fucking fright The Hyperdriver's running every single booth The Phantom's in the mirror, telling you the truth The Drowner's at the dunk tank, waiting to fall The Actor's on the stage, smiling through it all The Goddess runs the ticket stand, perfect and cold The Child's on the ferris wheel, never growing old And me? I'm just the host of this whole damn show But even I don't know which way the exits go --- (Pre-Chorus) Lights and prizes everywhere I look Anything to keep me fucking hooked Empty smiles everywhere I turn Not a single goddamn lesson learned --- (Chorus) Welcome to the carnival — the one inside my head Where the music never stops and the thoughts are painted red They welcome you with grins, but once you're fucking in You will never be the same, you will never leave again Let the games begin (Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm) Let the games begin (Mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm) --- (Bridge — Everything drops. Just a music box. A whisper. A child's voice.) They welcome you with grins... But the grins don't reach their eyes... And the prizes are just memories... That you've been trying to forget... And the rides don't ever stop... They just slow down long enough... For you to catch your breath... Before the next one starts... (beat slowly returns — carnival music warping, distorting) I've been in this carnival for eighteen fucking years... And I still don't know if I'm the guest or the attraction... Maybe I'm both... Maybe the carnival is me... --- (Final Chorus — Full chaos. All voices joining. The carnival consuming everything.) WELCOME TO THE CARNIVAL — THE ONE INSIDE MY FUCKING HEAD! WHERE THE MUSIC NEVER STOPS AND THE THOUGHTS ARE PAINTED RED! THEY WELCOME YOU WITH GRINS, BUT ONCE YOU'RE FUCKING IN! YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME, YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE AGAIN! LET THE GAMES BEGIN! (MM-MM-MM, MM-MM-MM, MM-MM-MM) LET THE GAMES BEGIN! (MM-MM-MM, MM-MM-MM, MM-MM-MM) --- (Outro — Carnival music slowing, warping, stopping. A final whisper.) No, you will never be the same again... But maybe that's the point... Maybe the carnival isn't a prison... Maybe it's just where I learned to survive... And the games never really end... They just change... (music box stops) (silence)
