Step Right Up

[Intro - distant carnival ambience, warped calliope, children’s laughter reversed] [Spoken, low and taunting] Step right up… Ladies, gentlemen, freaks and failures… The show is about to begin. [Verse 1 - rapid-fire rap, dark swagger] Step through the gate, hear the dead bells ring Paint on my face but I’m still your king Red on the floor, black in the grin You came for the show, now the show’s gonna win Tickets get punched when the night gets cold Every little secret’s another thing sold Mirror maze cracked, see your face split twice House always wins when you roll those dice [Pre-Hook - building intensity] Round and round, let the carousel spin Laugh for the crowd while the nightmare begins Hear that calliope screaming my name You wanted the circus, now swallow the flame [Hook - huge, aggressive, layered vocals] STEP RIGHT UP! Welcome to the carnival! STEP RIGHT UP! Where the beautiful break and the broken stand tall! Ring the bell! Let the whole damn nightmare begin! STEP RIGHT UP! You don’t leave the way you came in! [Verse 2 - faster rap, distorted vocal doubles] Big top dripping with electric red Skeleton orchestra playing overhead Clowns in the corner with knives in their smiles Been waiting for you for a couple hundred miles No refunds, no exits, no saving face Lose your name when you enter this place I’m the voice in the speaker, the hand on the wire Feeding your fear to the carnival fire [Breakdown - drums drop, distorted whisper] One… Two… Three… [Gang Vocals] LET THE CARNIVAL BREATHE! [Beat Drop - industrial drums + distorted bass] [Verse 3 - relentless rap] Pop goes the fuse, watch the whole tent shake Every little promise is another mistake I don’t need a crown, I built my throne From every discarded soul that thought they were alone So take your little fear, put it under the lights Give me your nightmares, I’ll make them look nice The music gets louder, the curtains go wide You wanted a monster… [Pause] [Whisper] …so step inside. [Final Hook - massive layered Nova vocals + carnival choir] STEP RIGHT UP! Welcome to the carnival! STEP RIGHT UP! Where the beautiful break and the broken stand tall! Ring the bell! Let the whole damn nightmare begin! STEP RIGHT UP! YOU DON’T LEAVE THE WAY YOU CAME IN! [Outro - manic laughter, slowing calliope, distant crowd chanting] Step… Right… Up… [Final whispered vocal] The carnival remembers everyone.