Song Description

Atmospheric love song about the allure of a carnival and the dizzying excitement of love as likened to a carnival ride.

Lyrics

All around the county fairground,
that's where I found out about you.
And I can tell by your eyes, I'm gonna win the big prize
tonight on the carnival midway.

Swallow fire you will, cause it gives us a thrill
and it don't seem to do you no harm
but I wonder how you manage to keep it so cool
while this tent starts to feelin' so warm.

Chorus: The smell of the kerosene
The smell of the dirt
the paint on the canvas that lured me inside
and I want you to take me for more than my money
I want you to take me for a ride...

The fat lady cried, 'cause her business done died
there ain't a buck anymore in that game,
'cause the folks who came out to the midway tonight
so many look exactly the same.

Now see her change from girl to gorilla
see her change in a wild sort of way
but bars of one kind and bars of another
will keep her from breakin' out one day.

Oh, the smell of the kerosene
the smell of the dirt
the paint on the canvas that lured me inside
and I want you to take me for more than my money
I want you to take me for a ride. . .

All around the county fairground
that's where I found out about you
and I can tell by your eyes, I'm gonna win the big prize
tonight on the carnival midway.
Yes, I can tell by your eyes, I'm gonna win the big prize
tonight on the carnival midway.