[Intro] Roll the red curtain, count to three Painted grins come hunting me [Verse 1] Big shoes pound the sawdust floor A crooked bow, then one step more Paper roses hide the knives They sell you joy and pocket lives [Pre-Chorus] Tilt your head, don't ask why Every laugh has teeth tonight [Chorus] Clowns, clowns, ringing the bell Welcome to the carnival under the spell Clowns, clowns, raise up the tent Smile for the king while your innocence bends Hey! Hey! Let the whole town know The painted parade is ready to go Clowns, clowns, red mouths wide Come take your seat on the rattletrap ride [Verse 2] A rubber nose and a velvet coat A brass-band heart in a sinking boat One juggles fire, one juggles names One trades your fear for a pocket of flames [Pre-Chorus] Tilt your head, don't blink twice Every prize comes with a price [Chorus] Clowns, clowns, ringing the bell Welcome to the carnival under the spell Clowns, clowns, raise up the tent Smile for the king while your innocence bends Hey! Hey! Let the whole town know The painted parade is ready to go Clowns, clowns, red mouths wide Come take your seat on the rattletrap ride [Bridge] When the calliope coughs and the midway sways When the mirrors forget all the names on your face Run if you can, but the gates are chained The joke is alive and it knows your name [Breakdown] Who wears the crown? We wear the crown! Who runs this town? We run this town! One, two, three—make the whole tent shake! Four, five, six—give the devil a cake! [Final Chorus] Clowns, clowns, ringing the bell Welcome to the carnival under the spell Clowns, clowns, raise up the tent Smile for the king while your innocence bends Hey! Hey! Let the whole town know The painted parade is ready to go Clowns, clowns, red mouths wide Come take your seat on the rattletrap ride [Outro] Roll the red curtain, count to three The last painted face is me
