I tried to slip my snare
I was caught and dying there
Some acrobats came by
Cut the snare and caught my eye
So I joined their merry band
I learned how to catch a hand
Whilst falling through the sky
To dance beyond the you and I
Then I heard we had a king
A lion keeper glistening
I saw him once backstage
Rattling a secret cage
Now I try to understand
Did I not see or forget the sight
Of the bullies and the sycophants
Whispering "It's you tonight"
I asked for freedom and freedom came
Broke the wheels of praise and blame
Circus wagon fell apart
I thought this was my chariot
Now the lion is escaping
With the dancing bear
My costume is on fire
My trapeze became a snare
Lion keeper did you try to be
Like your father who outrageously
Would step into the ring
Without a stitch protecting him
No, not even a whip
His eyes could tame the wildest ones
But you slowly lost your grip
You sank your teeth into someone
I asked for freedom and freedom came
Broke the wheels of praise and blame
Circus wagon fell apart
I thought this was my chariot
And we're left here in the wreckage
Of brightly coloured things
And the shame of having fed
The dreams of unkind kings