The Sideshow

Wolf Boy, Tom Thumb, Missing Link
Sad-Eyed Serpentina and Armless Girl Marie
We’ve been right here, your oldest dream
Strange and wondrous cousins that wait behind the screen
Step right up, look and see, five hundred dollars guaranteed

All true, this way from birth
We’re the sideshow of the greatest show on earth

Two rows, ten tents, make your choice
The tank of Feejee Mermaid, the cage of Monkey Boy
Half-price, six cents, children under twelve,
Watch Two-Headed Girl sing with herself
Step right up, can this be true, temples of the Holy Ghost just like you
Laughter without mirth at the sideshow of the greatest show on earth

We’ve been kicking sawdust since the Flood
Nothing slows us down but jump-day mud

We don’t complain, can’t be what we’re not
Doing the best we can with what we got

KooKoo, Bird Girl, sold by her ma

Said sometimes the way they look at me makes my feathers crawl
No dodge, no trick, no pigeon up the sleeve

This is what we are, nothing changes when you leave

So step right up, gape and stare, bust a gut, we don’t care
Just drop two bits for our day’s work
For the sideshow of the greatest show on earth