Sawdust, Spangles And Dreams

(album: Billy Rose's Jumbo - 1962)

What is a circus? What does it mean?
Is it a banjo? Or a tambourine?
Is it a phony snake charmer routine?

No, my friends. I think you only stall, my friends
You're thinking much too small, my friends
Or else you're not thinking at all, my friends

When people think of "circus", the wherefore and the why's of it
They think of all the adjectives, proclaiming what's the size of it!
For instance: Tremendous, stupendous, terrific, prolific, gigantic, romantic, sensational!
Razzling and dazzling, prodigious, insidious, ferocious, explosious, inspirational!

An ordinary tightwire or flying act
Becomes the greatest death-defying act!

You can bet
They will sweat
When you do your pirouette
Without a net!

Super, super, duper, duper
Hoop the hoop and loop the looper
Something cataclysmic for the kiddies
The most amazing melody of merriment and mirth
The circus is the greatest show on Earth

Sawdust and spangles and dreams
Popcorn and crackerjack play a part
Everything glitters and gleams
Under the big top that's in your heart

What if it's tarnished and a bit second hand
To all the people it's a magic land
Over the rainbow, it seems
Is sawdust …and spangles …and dreams!

We're gonna march around the Hippodrome track
And let the people see that Jumbo's back
Everything glitters and gleams
With sawdust and spangles and dreams!

Sawdust and spangles and dreams
Sawdust and spangles and dreams
Everything glitters and gleams
Sawdust …spangles

Sawdust and spangles and dreams
Popcorn and crackerjack play a part

It can't be love because I feel so well
No sobs, no sorrows, no sighs
This can't be love, I get no dizzy spells

Some people come for the animals
Some for the smells and the sounds
But you must agree, everybody comes to see
Those lovable, laughable clowns!

The makeup, the wigs, and the baggy pants
The jokes and the gags and the gaffe
Though your heart is breaking, start your merrymaking
And laugh, clown, laugh!

Tell all the people, shout it up and down
The wonderful Wonder circus is back in town!
Over the rainbow, it seems
Is stardust and spangles and dreams