It's a quarter past midnight and she aint no Cinderella

She's swallowed all your best lines and she's staying in the hotel

You've got a number from the bar tab that she's running

The circus comes to town



Temptation! Oooh, such a temptation!

Such a temptation!



The cage door is open and you're living on the high wire

Clowning in the spotlight you've got no one to bring you down

The cab's impatient, this lady's willing

The ringmaster calls you down



Temptation! Oh, such a temptation!

Temptation! Oh, such a temptation!



The Carnival Man! So glad to know you

The Carnival Man! You're shaking hands with

The Carnival Man! So pleased to meet you

The Carnival Man! Call me Mister Temptation



Like a bullet in a chamber that you're thinking is empty

You press it to your temple with a finger on the trigger

An act of bravado, an act of defiance

It's all eyes upon you now



Temptation! Oh, such a temptation!

Temptation! Oh, such a temptation!



The Carnival Man! So glad to know you

The Carnival Man! You're shaking hands with

The Carnival Man! So pleased to meet you

The Carnival Man! Call me Mister Temptation



Is there anything you want?

Anything you desire?

Just tell me anything you need

They call me Mister Temptation



You're the life and soul of every party

Now you're walking wounded, just another casualty

You've got my sympathy, you've got my calling card

This call's collect



I'm the Carnival Man

You may remember me as Mister Temptation

Carnival Man

This is the day that the circus leaves town

Goodbye, Carnival Man

This is the day that the circus leaves town

Goodbye

This is the day that the circus leaves town





There is a long (well over a minute) instrumental break before the verse

beginning "You're the life and soul...".



-- Geoff Parks