Sideshow
Biggs Barry Lyrics
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See the sideshow in town for only fifty cents
Step right up, hurry, hurry before the show begins, my friends
Stand in line, get your tickets, I hope you will attend
It'll only cost you fifty cents to see
What life has done to those like you and me
He hurts so bad (so bad, so bad)
See the girl who has lost the only love she ever had
There's got to be no sadder show to see
No doubt about it, satisfaction's guaranteed
So let the sideshow begin
Hurry, hurry, step right on in
Can't afford to pass it by
Guaranteed to make you cry
Let the sideshow begin (hurry, hurry)
Hurry, hurry, step right on in
Can't afford to pass it by
Guaranteed to make you cry
See the man who's been cryin' for a million years,
So many tears (so many tears)
See the girl who's collected broken hearts for souvenirs
It's more exciting than a one man band
The saddest little show in all the land
So let the sideshow begin
Hurry, hurry, step right on in
Can't afford to pass it by
Guaranteed to make you cry
Let the sideshow begin
Hurry, hurry, step right on in
Can't afford to pass it by
Guaranteed to make you cry
So let the sideshow begin (hurry, hurry)
Hurry, hurry, step right on in
Can't afford to pass it by
Guaranteed to make you cry
Let the sideshow begin (hurry, hurry)
Hurry, hurry, step right on in
Can't afford to pass it by
Guaranteed to make you cry (hurry, hurry)
Let the sideshow begin (step right on in)
In Biggs Barry’s “Sideshow,” the singer beckons the listener to step right up and witness the saddest spectacle in town. The sideshow is a metaphor for the struggles and heartbreaks that people face in their lives, and the performers are representations of various types of pain. The man with the broken heart and the girl who has lost her only love illustrate the sorrow of lost relationships, while the man who’s been crying for a million years and the girl who's collected broken hearts for souvenirs represent the toll that emotional pain takes on us over time.
The “Sideshow” is not only a display of sadness but a social commentary on how we take pleasure in witnessing others’ suffering. The singer urges the listener not to pass by the sideshow but to step right in, reminding them that it’s only fifty cents to see what life has done to those like us. The final line that guarantees the show will make you cry is a scathing critique of the entertainment industry's reliance on exploiting misery for profit.
Line by Line Meaning
Hurry, hurry, step right up
Quickly approach the attraction, don't hesitate
See the sideshow in town for only fifty cents
Observe the performance, a bargain price of fifty cents for entry
Step right up, hurry, hurry before the show begins, my friends
Approach promptly before the presentation commences, companions
Stand in line, get your tickets, I hope you will attend
Queue and obtain your entry pass, I anticipate your attendance
It'll only cost you fifty cents to see
A minor charge of only fifty cents for the opportunity to observe
What life has done to those like you and me
What experiences have affected individuals such as you and me
See the man with the broken heart, you'll see that he is sad,
Observe the individual with a broken spirit, and see the misery within
He hurts so bad (so bad, so bad)
His agony is profound, profound indeed
See the girl who has lost the only love she ever had
Notice the female who has been deprived of her one and only love
There's got to be no sadder show to see
No performance exists more pitiful than this showcase
No doubt about it, satisfaction's guaranteed
Assurance provided, no hesitance necessary with regards to contentment
So let the sideshow begin
Commence the spectacle
Can't afford to pass it by
It's impossible to disregard its magnificence
Guaranteed to make you cry
Assured to provoke tears
See the man who's been cryin' for a million years,
Perceive the man who has been weeping for eternity
So many tears (so many tears)
A vast quantity of sorrowful droplets expelled over time
See the girl who's collected broken hearts for souvenirs
Ogle at the female who has acquired shattered hearts as souvenirs
It's more exciting than a one man band
It provides more stimulation than a single musician performance
The saddest little show in all the land
The most melancholic and petite show that exists
Let the sideshow begin (hurry, hurry)
Start the presentation, rapidly
Hurry, hurry, step right on in
Don't delay, immediately proceed inside
Let the sideshow begin (step right on in)
The event shall now begin, enter without hesitation
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: BOBBY ELI, VINNY BARRETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pauljones9061
Can you imagine looking back 47 years from now and remembering a single song from 2022 ?
@reggaebass1857
Good point, that’s a tough one 🙂
@alanthomas8467
No
@davinastanton3865
I was sitting outside humming this song and had to come and listen to it. Wow we had a wonderful time back in the day.
Life is so much different now.
My love to everyone. 💗⚘🕊
@jackienuttall7549
Davina 60s and 70s the best days ever to be young. Or old..safe happy country and the best music 🎶
@efmaxx1527
So so true... wicked times back then..
@timjonheath
Would love to have lived out life in the 70's as feel so out of place in this millennium.
@stephenpaulwilson
Love and prayers from Liverpool England 🙏 Jesus Christ is LORD 😃 great times are returning soon ❤
@treboryrag
@timjonheath best times of our lives in the 70s ..
@a.rhodenlawrence1752
Can’t listen to this without a tear in my eye.. Reminds me of family times, older ones now long gone.