life in the circus ain't easy 
but the folks on the outside don't know 
the tent goes up and the tent comes down 
and all that they see is the show 
and the ladies on the horses look so pretty 
and the lions are lookin real mad 
and some of the clowns are happy 
and some of the clowns are sad 
 
but underneath 
there's another expression 
that the makeup isn't making 
life under the big top 
it's about freedom 
it's about faking 
there's an art to the laughter 
there's a science 
and there's a lot of love 
and compliance 
 
welcoem to the freakshow 
here we go... 
 
we live to hear the slack-jawed gasping 
we live under a halo of held breath 
and when the children raise up a giant shield 
of laughter, it's like they're fending off death 
and we can make somethig bigger 
then anyone of us alone 
and then the clowns will take off their makeup 
and the people will go home 
 
but life on the outside ain't easy 
no sequins, no elephants, 
no parading around 
yeah, the tent goes up 
and the tent comes down 
and they're stuck in this fucking town 
 
you need a lot of love and compliance 
 
welcome to the freakshow 
here we go