[Intro]
Ferris wheel rust
Moon on a chain
Hay bales, mud
Blood on the frame (hey)
Car lights fade
Crickets stop cold
Ticket man grins
“Welcome to the show”
[Verse 1]
I’m that backwood psychopath
Boots in the ditch, laugh in the dark path
Mask in the mirror of my own truck glass
Shotgun shine, see your life flash
Cornfield chorus in the breeze, all hush
Gravel in my teeth, taste dust, taste rush
Barn door creak, see the rope swing slow
Every nail in the floor say “go… don’t go”
[Chorus]
Step right up to the backwood carnival
Where the saints get lost and the sins feel comfortable
Spin that mind like a rusted carousel
Round and round, deeper down this country hell
You ain’t leaving when the lights all fade
You’ll be dancing to the sound of my name
Welcome home to the backwood carnival
(Hypnotized, paralyzed, so wonderful)
[Verse 2]
She hums church hymns under strobe-light sky
Bible on her thigh, razor in her smile
Says, “Boy, close your eyes, count to five real slow”
By the time you hit three, you ain’t in control
Fireflies flicker like trance in your veins
Her drawl drips sweet while she rewires your brain
Says, “Follow my voice where the creek runs black”
Every step that you take, there’s no way back (oh no)
[Chorus]
Step right up to the backwood carnival
Where the saints get lost and the sins feel comfortable
Spin that mind like a rusted carousel
Round and round, deeper down this country hell
You ain’t leaving when the lights all fade
You’ll be dancing to the sound of my name
Welcome home to the backwood carnival
(Hypnotized, paralyzed, so wonderful)
[Bridge]
[Beat drops to a low pulse, whispered call-and-response]
(Male) Count to ten
(Female) You can’t move your hands
(Male) Watch that wheel
(Female) Watch it, don’t you glance away again
(Male) Your heart slow
(Female) Your thoughts mine
(Together) In this field, on this ride, till the end of time
[Chorus]
Step right up to the backwood carnival
Where the saints get lost and the sins feel comfortable
Spin that mind like a rusted carousel
Round and round, deeper down this country hell
You ain’t leaving when the lights all fade
You’ll be dancing to the sound of my name
Welcome home to the backwood carnival
(Hypnotized, paralyzed, so wonderful)