CIRCUS SONG

a.k.a. CIRCUS TOWN

Version 1

The machinist climbs his ferris wheel like a brave
The fire eater's lyin' in a pool of sweat victim of the heatwave
Behind the tent the leatherboy tightens his legs
On the sword swallower's blade
Circus town's on the shortwave

Well the runway lies ahead like a great false dawn
Oh fat lady, Big Mama, Missy Bimbo, sits in her chair and yawns
And the man-beast lies in his cage sniffin' popcorn
The midget licks his fingers and suffers Missy Bimbo's scorn
The circus town's been born

Whoa and the press-roll drummer go, ballerina to-and-fro
Cart-wheelin' up on the tightrope
With a cannon blast, lightning flash, moving fast through
The tent Mars bent, he's gonna miss his fall
Oh God save the human cannonball

And the flying Zambini's watch Marguerita do her neck twist
The ringmaster gets the crowd to count along
Ninety-five, ninety-six....ninety-seven
And behind the tent half bent money spent
With his wet make-up drippin on the ground
There's a half-smile half-frown goin' down
Oh Jesus sent some sweet women to save all the clowns

And circus boy dances like a monkey crossed barbed wire
And the barker romances with a junkie, she's got a flat tyre
And the elephants dance real funky, and the band plays like a jungle fire
Circus town's on the live wire

And strongman lifts the midget, up on his shoulders
Up above the liars
Hear the liars whisperin' to the Barker
Hear the liars checkin' out the centre ring
Hear the liars checkin' out the trapeze ring
Oh hear the liars, feel their fire
Oh hear the liars, they're so scared of dying
Well anybody wanna try the big top
All aboard, Nebraska's our next stop

Early stage of WILD BILLY'S CIRCUS STORY, which is very similar to it. Played live in 1972 and 1973. This version refers to the one performed on 31 Jan 1973 at Max's Kansas City, New York City, and the one performed on 02 Mar 1973 at Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA.  Check also version 2.

Was released once on a promo single in 1973 in a live version (27 Jul 1973) with SMOKEY FACTORY BLUES (by Albert Hammond).