Words and music by joni mitchell



No, you couldn't call jesse a babe in the woods

He's just weak in self-defense

'cause he's so thin skinned

He can't take a joke at his expense

"you're a push down window," says rowdy yates

"i can run you up and down

Anytime i want

I can make you my dancin'--

My dancin' clown!"

You're my dancin' clown

Dancin' dancin'

My dancin' clown

Dancin'

You're my dancin' clown

Dancin' dancin' dancin'

My dancin' clown



Rowdy yates is as bold as jove--

He's all chide and snide and bluff--

Stuck in the romantic tradition

Of acting rough and tough

"you're always charging thru," says jesse

Nervous, lookin' all around--

To see who's seein' him bein' a dancin'

A dancin' clown

He's a dancin' clown

Dancin' dancin'

A dancin' clown

Dancin'

He's a dancin' clown

Dancin' dancin' dancin'

A dancin' clown



Cherchez la femme

Whenever love comes around

Someone's a dancin' clown

Cherchez la femme

Whenever hearts start to pound

Someone's a dancin' clown



Down the street comes last-word suzie--

She's high yellow--lookin' top nice

You hear the swoosh of jungle blades

And the crackle of northern ice

"hot damn!" says rowdy--lookin' up

"yum!" says jesse lookin' down

"how would you like to be her dancin'

Her dancin' clown?"

Be her dancin' clown

Dancin' dancin'

Her dancin' clown

Dancin'

Be her dancin' clown

Dancin' dancin' dancin'

Her dancin' clown



Cherchez la femme

Whenever love comes to town

Someone's a dancin' clown

Cherchez la femme

Wherever hearts start to pound

Someone's a dancin' clown


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