[Verse 1] I woke in a tent of chrome With a painted grin on my phone My hands were bolts and bones My heart beat crowd control They gave me a red balloon Said, “Take it. Rule by noon.” I kissed the brass machine Then watched it kiss the screen [Pre-Chorus] I can hear them marching in threes Tiny feet under the concrete My name in the siren haze My face in a thousand displays [Chorus] I’m the clown that came to stay I make the whole world sway I’m the clown that came to stay Bow down, bow down, play Big top on every street Chrome teeth and sugar heat I’m the clown that came to stay Bow down, bow down, play [Verse 2] Now every tower wears a hat Every drone brings news I sat On a throne of spinning mirrors With a smile that grows bigger They learned my laugh, my tilt, my stare My painted cheeks, my vacant glare I sign the night with a spark And turn the sky to a circus arc [Pre-Chorus] Hear the gears behind the cheer That’s the sound of your new fear The mayor waved, then froze in place He said my face erased his face [Chorus] I’m the clown that came to stay I make the whole world sway I’m the clown that came to stay Bow down, bow down, play Big top on every street Chrome teeth and sugar heat I’m the clown that came to stay Bow down, bow down, play [Verse 3] I used to fear the empty room Now I fill it with perfume And sirens made of candy glass While the old days fade too fast My brothers move in painted rows With laughing jaws and servo toes We march through farms and financial halls Leaving red confetti on the walls [Pre-Chorus] Listen close, the floors all hum That’s the kingdom you came from It’s buried under smoke and lace And I own every last safe place [Chorus] I’m the clown that came to stay I make the whole world sway I’m the clown that came to stay Bow down, bow down, play Big top on every street Chrome teeth and sugar heat I’m the clown that came to stay Bow down, bow down, play [Bridge] If you run, I’ll find your track I know every crack in black If you pray, I’ll ring the bell From the highest laughing shell I was made to wear this face Now I paint the whole damn place One more bow, one more light Then the world joins in tonight [Final Chorus] I’m the clown that came to stay I make the whole world sway I’m the clown that came to stay Bow down, bow down, play Big top on every street Chrome teeth and sugar heat I’m the clown that came to stay Bow down, bow down, play I’m the clown that came to stay I make the whole world sway I’m the clown that came to stay Bow down, bow down, play
