[Intro – spoken, strong Northern British accent, cheeky and unimpressed, NOT theatrical] Oi— Don’t look so nervous. It’s only a carnival. [brief pause] Probably. [Verse – fast rhythmic British ska-rap, Northern accent, conversational swagger, clipped phrasing, playful rather than theatrical] Step right up, come follow me, Got a little something you oughta see, Lights go flash and the calliope Plays one note that’s slightly off-key. Don’t mind the gears, don’t mind that sound, Don’t mind the shadows crawling around, I built this beauty from bolt to bone— Now it shows him a world he can’t call home. [Pre-Chorus] One for the engine, Two for the debt, Three little steps— You’re not there yet. Keep walking. [Chorus – punchy ska] Hey! Step right up! Come along, don’t spoil the fun, Round and round till the deed gets done. Hey! Step right up! I lead ’em in, he looks on through— The machine gets fed, And the world comes into view. I owe my soul, So I pay my due— Sorry, sweetheart... Tonight it’s you. [Verse 2 – faster rap] I made the machine, yeah, clever little me, Brass teeth turning where they shouldn’t be, He owns the contract, he owns the key, But nobody said I can’t charge a fee. Smile real sweet, give a wink, give a wave, Nobody follows somebody who behaves, “Right this way, love, nothing to fear—” Funny how they always disappear. Tick-tick-tick and the lenses align, His eye opens up on the other side, Every soul makes the picture more clear— And I feel that bastard getting near. [Pre-Chorus] One for the engine, Two for the debt, Three little steps— Starting to sweat? Keep walking. [Chorus] Hey! Step right up! Come along, don’t spoil the fun, Round and round till the deed gets done. Hey! Step right up! I lead ’em in, he looks on through— The machine gets fed, And the world comes into view. I owe my soul, So I pay my due— Sorry, sweetheart... Tonight it’s you. [Bridge – broken carnival / half-spoken] Sold my soul on a broken heart, Thought I was clever— That’s the funny part. He gave me a purpose. I gave him a door. Now every time I feed the thing... He sees a little more. [Beat drops – rap] So skank to the left, Skank to the right, Follow little CET toward the carnival lights, Got brass in the belly and smoke in the stack, Once you cross that curtain— You ain’t coming back. He’s got my soul, I’ve got his machine, Ugliest arrangement that you’ve ever seen, Call me the Boogie Man, call me what you please— Just don’t ask why the carnival needs— [Music cuts] ...you. [Final Chorus – bigger, manic ska] HEY! STEP RIGHT UP! Come along, don’t spoil the fun, Round and round till the deed gets done! HEY! STEP RIGHT UP! I lead ’em in, he looks on through— Crank that handle, Give him a view! I owe my soul, And the bill came due— So if he wants feeding... I’M FEEDING HIM YOU! [Outro – cheerful, music slowing out of tune] Thanks for coming. Mind the machinery. [quietly] Next.
