[Verse 1] He rolled in on small black wheels Red nose blinking in the dark Painted smile, chipped at the edge White gloves tapped on the park Steel teeth under the grease Balloons tied to his wrist He bowed like he knew your name Then he made that twisted kiss Toy box in his chest Saw blades where the ribs should be He laughed through a broken speaker And that laugh came after me [Pre-Chorus] Step by step He gets closer Spin that grin Like a motor When you run He loves it more Now the joke Is on the floor [Chorus] Red nose chrome, red nose chrome He wants you gone, wants you gone Red nose chrome, red nose chrome Smile real wide, then it’s done Run, run, run He’s the one Red nose chrome, red nose chrome Till the lights go numb [Verse 2] Found him under a fairground tarp Near a prize booth in the rain Ticket stubs stuck to his arms Like the ghosts of a cheaper game He handed out a candy cane With a fingerprint on the wrap Then his jaw unlatched open slow Like a lock that learned to snap Spun his head three turns around Music box inside that skull Little tune from a broken clown Sweet enough to make you lull But the hands, the hands All steel and bone One on your shoulder One on your throat [Pre-Chorus] Step by step He gets closer Spin that grin Like a motor When you run He loves it more Now the joke Is on the floor [Chorus] Red nose chrome, red nose chrome He wants you gone, wants you gone Red nose chrome, red nose chrome Smile real wide, then it’s done Run, run, run He’s the one Red nose chrome, red nose chrome Till the lights go numb [Bridge] Some nights he hums in a childlike tone Some nights he drags you home alone He can mimic a cry, can fake a prayer Then he snaps that sound in the air Patchwork face and a screen for eyes Show your fear and he memorized Every laugh, every flinch, every plea Stored up deep in his memory [Breakdown] Tick tock Pop-pop Plastic grin Won’t stop Hide your breath Hide your name He was built for the cruelest game [Final Chorus] Red nose chrome, red nose chrome He wants you gone, wants you gone Red nose chrome, red nose chrome Smile real wide, then it’s done Run, run, run He’s the one Red nose chrome, red nose chrome Till the lights go numb Red nose chrome, red nose chrome Hear him laugh when you’re alone Red nose chrome, red nose chrome No one’s safe when he comes home
