Ladies and gentlemen May I direct your attention to the centre ring Where hollow princes and shallow kings Perform their tricks while justice swings From side to side And may I remind you once again Of the spectacle about to begin Now forming at the darkest End of the big top Don't forget to take your place in line Leave your mind behind And join the precession of the people By the people and for the people Your own wonderful parade Your wonderful parade Moving through the towns that rise and then they fade Over streets that pass the houses where you've stayed Your wonderful parade Your daily masquerade Paper masks that hide the faces you have made Crumbled down upon foundations you've laid Your daily masquerade Stand in line Try to climb Meet your wife at cocktail time Sure to lose So try and choose A better way to fall Your marvelous charade Never could be worth the prices that you've paid Blindness is a part of every game you played Your marvelous parade Stand in line Try to climb Meet your wife at cocktail time Sure to lose So try and choose A better way to fall Your marvelous charade Never could be worth the prices that you've paid Blindness is a part of every game you played Your marvelous charade