[Verse 1]
Well, in 1941, a happy father had a son
And by 1944, the father walks right out the door
And in '45, the mom and son were still alive
But who could tell in '46 if the two were to survive?

[Verse 2]
Well, the years were passin' quickly
But not fast enough for him
So he closed his eyes 'til '55
Then he opened them up again
And when he looked around, he saw a clown
And the clown seemed very gay
And he said, "I'd like to join
That circus clown and run away"

[Verse 3]
Well, he followed every railroad track
And every highway sign
And he had a girl in each new town
And the towns he left behind
And the open road
Was the only road he knew
But the color of his dreams
Were slowly turnin' into blue
[Verse 4]
Then he met a girl, the kind of girl
He'd wanted all his life
She was soft and kind and good to him
So he took her for his wife
And they got a house not far from town
And in a little while
The girl had seen the doctor
And she came home with a smile

[Verse 5]
Now, in 1961, a happy father had a son
And by 1964, the father walks right out the door
And in '65, the mom and son were still around
But what will happen to the boy
When the circus comes to town?