JOIN THE CIRCUS
When the pill the doctor gave you turns your cold to the grip
When a stitch to save nine others comes apart with a rip
When the rats invade your attic and start leaving your ship
Follow my tip, come away on a trip
Just join the circus like you wanted to
When you were a kid
Climb aboard before it moves on and you’ll
Thank your lucky stars you did
Go to bed in Minneapolis, wake up in P.A.
Pack your roll, your brush and your comb again
Ready to roam again, ready to stray
Bless your soul you’ll never go home again
When the circus comes your way
When you’ve patches in your trousers and a hole in your purse
When your nine-to-five is boring and your five-to-nine’s worse
When you sneeze instead of bless you, you get jeers and a curse
Don’t call a hearse, while you’ve still got the “cherce”
Just join the circus like you meant to do when you were so high
Pitch your troubles under a tent and you’re bound to lose ‘em by and by
Say so long to fair Schenectady, greet sweet Santa Fe
Toss your hat and pain in a sack again
Shoulder your pack again, pitch up the shay
Kiss the cat, and never look back again
When the circus comes your way
When the lady you’ve been courtin’ weds your brother instead
When his honor gives you thirty days on water and bread
When your bank account’s a million, but it’s all in the red
Don’t lose your head, pin this note to the bed
I’ve joined the circus like I wanted to when I was a kid
Climbed aboard before it moved on and you
Bet your life I’m glad I did
Went to bed in Minneapolis, woke up in P.A.
Packed my roll, my brush, and my comb again
Ready to roam again, ready to stray
Bless my soul I’ll never go home again
When the circus comes my way
See that tent pole slowly start to rise, circus! Circus!
Just to say the word electrifies, circus! Circus!
Watch that tiger shaking hands like a pup there
That lady dancing on a wire a million miles up there
That string of painted cars down railroad avenue, circus! Circus!
??? for say you’re going to circus! Circus!
Share the glad times and the woe with us,
Pack your trunk and join the show with us,
Roll from Maine to Kokomo with us,
Mister Barnum, say you’ll go with us…
(Barnum) All right, damn it, why don’t we just leave it to the fates.
Heads it’s yes; tails, it’s no. Mister Bailey, you’ve got yourself a partner!
(Bailey) Be the biggest show in the country!
(Barnum) To the greatest show on earth!
When the circus comes your way
(Barnum – sung)
I’ve joined the circus like I wanted to when I was a kid
Climbed aboard before it moved on and you
Bet your life I’m glad I did
Went to bed in Minneapolis, woke up in P.A.
Packed my roll, my brush, and my comb again
Ready to roam again, show me the way
Bless my soul I’ll never go home again
From the day I joined the circus
Be proud to say you joined the circus
Step right this way and join the circus
Just stick a banner in your hand and
Join the circus like you wanted to
Like you always wanted to
Run away!!