[Intro] [Ringmaster's announcement] Ladies and gentlemen… boys and girls… Step right up… but step oh-so-carefully… [Verse 1] Come hear the call of the carnival drum The wagons have rolled in, the circus has come With lanterns that flicker and shadows that creep And wonders you’ll dream of… or haunt you in sleep The bearded lady blows you a kiss The dwarf on the tightrope won’t dare to miss A giantess towering, seven feet tall She’ll lift you with laughter… or crush you, that’s all [Chorus] Come one, come all, don’t be afraid The magic is real, but the price must be paid In velvet and smoke, you’ll see what you’re worth Step into The Greatest Show on Earth! [musical interlude] [Verse 2] We’ve got a cabaret, wild and obscene Feathers and lace in a scandalous scene A lion that dances, a snake that can sing A ring of red fire, a dangerous thing But stay ‘til the midnight, when curtains draw tight And the gaslamps burn low in the echo of night For those who arrive here are blessed—or are cursed They enter with joy, but they don’t leave… at first [Chorus] Come one, come all, don’t be afraid The magic is real, but the price must be paid In velvet and smoke, you’ll see what you’re worth Step into The Greatest Show on Earth! [musical interlude] [Bridge – Spoken, over music] “Your tickets, please… You’ll find the exit… oh, you’ll find it soon enough. If you can…” (Ha ha ha ha ha...) [Verse 3] The laughter grows louder, the crowd starts to sway The calliope’s tune pulls your senses away The mirrors will twist you, the maze has no end And strangers you meet might not be your friend We’ll thrill you, we’ll chill you, we’ll steal your last breath We promise a spectacle you’ll take to your death The curtains are closing, but stay in your seat… The show’s just beginning—your fate is complete [musical interlude - build up] ooooo.... [Final Chorus] Come one, come all, don’t be afraid The magic is real, but the price must be paid The sawdust and shadows conceal all our mirth Welcome to The Greatest Show on Earth! [Gypsy jazz ending]
