Ben Kaimana Diamond / Son Stone

Lyrics

She bent like a willow, I was strong like an ox
We danced to a waltz, on an old music box
For her I’d eat fire, I’d climb any wall
But the higher I got, the farther I’d fall

Now the circus is leaving, there’s the elephant car
The bottles line up on the top of the bar
And the train gate is down, on the far side of town
So wave goodbye to the clown

She knew how to play me, she could ask anything
She gave me sweet loving, and promised a ring
But I misunderstood, it was no pledge to wed
The ring held the lions, and they hadn’t been fed

Now the circus is leaving, there’s the trampoline car
The bottles line up on the top of the bar
And the train gate is down, on the far side of town
So wave goodbye to the clown

We argued without words, we were bitter as lime
We were trapped center-stage in a sad pantomime
She juggled careers, I swam in cocktails
We slept side-by-side on a bed of sharp nails

Now the circus is leaving, there goes the knife-thrower’s car
The bottles line up on the top of the bar
And the train gate is down, on the far side of town
So wave goodbye to the clown

BRIDGE
Up on the tightrope with a brass clarinet
Blindfold and backwards with no safety net

Many a night, she watched as I cried
But I swallowed the sword, and I swallowed my pride
I climbed in the cannon, shot high in the air
And I begged our dear lord to end my nightmare

Now the circus is leaving, there’s the ringmaster’s car
The bottles tip over from the top of the bar
And the train gate is down, on the far side of town
And the only one left is the clown
Yah, the only one left is this clown