Sawdust, Spangles and Dreams - Doris Day

What is a circus?

What does it mean?

Is it a banjo?

Or a tambourine?

Is it a phony snake charmer routine?

No, my friends.

I think you only stall, my friends

You’re thinking much too small, my friends

Or else you’re not thinking at all, my friends

When people think of «circus», the wherefore and the why’s of it

They think of all the adjectives, proclaiming what’s the size of it!

For instance: Tremendous, stupendous, terrific, prolific, gigantic, romantic,

sensational!

Razzling and dazzling, prodigious, insidious, ferocious, explosious,

inspirational!

An ordinary tightwire or flying act

Becomes the greatest death-defying act!

You can bet

They will sweat

When you do your pirouette

Without a net!

Super, super, duper, duper

Hoop the hoop and loop the looper

Something cataclysmic for the kiddies

The most amazing melody of merriment and mirth

The circus is the greatest show on Earth

Sawdust and spangles and dreams

Popcorn and crackerjack play a part

Everything glitters and gleams

Under the big top that’s in your heart

What if it’s tarnished and a bit second hand

To all the people it’s a magic land

Over the rainbow, it seems

Is sawdust … and spangles … and dreams!

We’re gonna march around the Hippodrome track

And let the people see that Jumbo’s back

Everything glitters and gleams

With sawdust and spangles and dreams!

Sawdust and spangles and dreams

Sawdust and spangles and dreams

Everything glitters and gleams

Sawdust … spangles

Sawdust and spangles and dreams

Popcorn and crackerjack play a part

It can’t be love because I feel so well

No sobs, no sorrows, no sighs

This can’t be love, I get no dizzy spells

Some people come for the animals

Some for the smells and the sounds

But you must agree, everybody comes to see

Those lovable, laughable clowns!

The makeup, the wigs, and the baggy pants

The jokes and the gags and the gaffe

Though your heart is breaking, start your merrymaking

And laugh, clown, laugh!

Tell all the people, shout it up and down

The wonderful Wonder circus is back in town!

Over the rainbow, it seems

Is stardust and spangles and dreams