Smile, Kids!

[Intro – honky-tonk piano, toy percussion, cheerful whistling, children's choir] La-la-la, come along and play, The sun is bright, it’s a happy day! Smiles so wide, the fun won’t end, Every broken heart can mend! [Verse 1 – playful, cartoonish] Candy clouds and lollipops, Dancing bears with fancy tops, Hold my hand, we’ll never fall, Laughter’s free — it cures it all! [Sudden Shift – thunder sound, distortion kicks in] (Vocal deepens, sinister tone) But behind the paint, the cracks appear, Your candy smiles conceal the fear. The carnival’s a cage of screams, And innocence is not what it seems… [Chorus – dark swing groove, heavy brass stabs, sly female backing vocals] Smile, kids! Don’t you cry… Hide the truth with a lullaby. Dance in circles, wear your grin, The nightmare’s where the games begin. [Verse 2 – half-rap, theatrical, with creepy bassline] Step right up, don’t be shy, take a spin! The wheel of fate always loves to sin. Cotton candy melts into blood-red rain, Laugh through the madness, forget the pain. [Bridge – cartoon voices mixed with eerie whispers] (Whisper) “Smile… wider…” [children's choir] “La-la-la, the fun won’t stop, ‘Til the clockwork heart goes pop!” [Final Chorus – full dark swing, dissonant horns, chaotic drums] Smile, kids! Don’t you cry… Hide the truth with a lullaby. Behind the curtain, monsters grin, Welcome home — let the terror in. [Outro – fades back to old cartoon piano, scratchy record crackle] [Childlike voice, sweet tone] Everything’s just fine… Hee hee…