[INTRO — warped calliope, carnival bells, children’s footsteps, distant laughter] Once a year on Halloween night That crimson moon hangs burning bright The rust falls off, the curtains rise Old carnival lights blink open wide [VERSE 1 — bouncy haunted carnival rhythm] The ticket booth is painted red The carousel turns overhead The midway smells like sugar smoke And every rusty sign awoke Witches run between the tents Little ghosts with stolen candy cents Cecelia watches from the gate Laughing as they celebrate No soul to steal No debt to pay She shuts that hunger down today [PRE-CHORUS — calliope and handclaps] Pitter-patter, little feet Boots and sneakers hit the street Vampires, goblins, cats and bats Tiny witches wearing hats [CHORUS — theatrical carnival singalong] ONE NIGHT OFF! Cecelia's taking one night off! Trick or treat, come ring the bell Have some fun inside this hell ONE NIGHT OFF! No hungry heart, no soul to haul Candy's free for one and all Come through the gates Enjoy the night Underneath the crimson light [VERSE 2 — playful drums, brass accents] Demons line the midway dressed In crooked suits and Sunday best A skeleton's juggling candy corn A scarecrow's dancing with a horn Ravens steal the candy bags Ghosts go racing through the flags Shadows crawl along the wall Nobody cares, they're having a ball She hears the laughter, smells the treats Sees little monsters in the streets Her thirst goes quiet, her smile grows wide She lets the children run inside [PRE-CHORUS — rising calliope] Take your seat, the curtain's high Fireworks bloom across the sky The ring is lit, the music starts Tonight she gives away her heart [CHORUS — bigger, layered vocals] ONE NIGHT OFF! Cecelia's taking one night off! Trick or treat, come ring the bell Have some fun inside this hell ONE NIGHT OFF! No hungry heart, no soul to haul Candy's free for one and all Come through the gates Enjoy the night Underneath the crimson light [BRIDGE — music drops to music box, footsteps and laughter] [CECelia — playful] Trick or treat? [CROWD] TRICK OR TREAT! [CECelia] What'd you get? [CROWD] CANDY! [CECelia laughs] Keep it. It's yours. [Music kicks back in] No bargains hiding in the dark No soul waiting in the box Just candy wrappers, crooked grins And little devils stumbling in [FINAL CHORUS — full carnival band, stomping percussion, brass, calliope] ONE NIGHT OFF! Cecelia's taking one night off! Let the carousel spin around Let those little feet shake the ground ONE NIGHT OFF! Tonight nobody disappears Just costumes, candy, screams and cheers The demons dance The children play And Cecelia gives the hunger away ONE NIGHT OFF! Underneath that crimson moon The Crazy Carnival's in bloom So take your treats And take your fright She'll see you all next Halloween night [OUTRO — slowing calliope, bells, children's laughter] [CECelia — soft, amused] Happy Halloween, little monsters. [final carnival bell]
