The Lion Has Got No Teeth

[AUGUST]
Jacob, my boy
Please don't look so annoyed
It's a trick
Here's a bucket if you need to be sick
You see nothing 'round here's
Ever quite what it appears
If it was then I wouldn't have a business

Jacob, you seem
Like a bright young lad
Yes, it's true you've been duped
But you shouldn't feel bad
You're in good company
It's not easy to see
The illusions that make up the circus

You see, the people they come to the circus
To see miracles performed
To see heaven and hell on earth
And so to that purpose
We give 'em angels and demons
And everything in between 'em

Oh, but we who are made
Of the same stuff as they
How can we give 'em what they came for?

[ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
And for the people who can pay more

[ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
You can say that it's amoral
But our pride's in our
Lies, lies, lies, lies
Lies, lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST & ENSEMBLE]
No nothing is quite what it seems
Lies, lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
And the lion has got no teeth

[AUGUST, spoken]
It's all make believe, sonny
Just like we're gonna make believe
That you are a doctor of veterinary science

[AUGUST]
What they see, sense and smell
It's impossible to tell
Between the bullshit and baloney

[ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
The fake, the shake, the phony

[ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
And the authentic testimonial
There's a soul to our
Lies, lies, lies, lies
Lies, lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST & ENSEMBLE]
No nothing is quite what it seems
Lies, lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
And the lion has got no teeth

[JACOB]
It's not that I'm not impressed
By this lesson in deception
But the acts I like the best
Don't depend on misdirection
Where is the lie
When they're flying overhead?
When they're dancing on a thread?
When she's riding?
You can't live off lies

[AUGUST]
I think you would be surprised
I mean, have you seen our hippopotamus?

[ENSEMBLE]
The lion has got no teeth

[AUGUST]
All the rubes think that she's marvelous

[ENSEMBLE]
The lion has got no teeth

[AUGUST]
Been a month now since she died
Swimming in a tank of formaldehyde
Have you seen our Siamese twins?

[ENSEMBLE]
The lion has got no teeth

[AUGUST]
Mary-Lou and Mary-Lynn

[ENSEMBLE]
The lion has got no teeth

[AUGUST]
Would the rubes be so elated
If they knew they're not related?
Oh no, you gotta give 'em

[ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies, lies
Lies, lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST & ENSEMBLE]
And have you met our great ringmaster? (Lies, lies, lies, lies)

[ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST & ENSEMBLE]
Quite as threatening as he's dapper (Lies, lies, lies, lies)

[ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
Holds the ring inside his palm
Wields the whip to drive it on
Even he is not absolved
Of the carnival's cardinal fraud

At the end of the day
When the crowds have gone away
I'm just one among the many fighting
To feed my growing family

Oh, but we who are made
Of the same stuff as they
How do we keep 'em on the payroll?

[ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
How do we put food on the table?

[ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
Nothing sweetens the taste of bad meat
Like a chaser of

[AUGUST & ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
You may say that it's amoral
But our pride's in our

[AUGUST & ENSEMBLE]
Lies, lies, lies, lies

[AUGUST]
Yes, our lies
Yes, our lies
Oh, our lies

[AUGUST]
Yes, our lies are our pride
And our pride's in our lies
And the lions in our pride
Have got no teeth!