In his recordings, in addition to albums under his own name, he has one album as Keller Williams with The String Cheese Incident, two albums as Keller Williams & The Keels, and a live album as Keller Williams with Moseley, Droll & Sipe.
Freakshow
Keller Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but the people on the outside don't know
the tent goes up and the tent comes down
and all that they see is the show
and the ladies on the horses look so pretty
and the lions are lookin real mad
and some of the clowns are happy
and some of the clowns are sad
But underneath
there's an expression
that the makeup is not making
life under the big top
it's about freedom
it's about faking
there's an art to the laughter
there's a science
you need a lot of love
and compliance
Welcome to the freakshow
here we go...
We live to hear the slack-jawed gasping
we live under a halo of held breath
and when the children raise up a giant shield
of laughter, it's like they're fending off death
and we can make somethig bigger
then anyone of us alone
and then the clowns will take off their makeup
and the people will go home
But life on the outside ain't easy
no sequins, no elephants,
no parading around
yeah, the tent goes up
and the tent comes down
and they're stuck in this fucking town
You need a lot of love and compliance
Welcome to the freakshow
here we go
The song "Freakshow" by Keller Williams is all about life in the circus. Williams describes how the audience sees the circus from the outside and how it looks beautiful and perfect. However, he expresses that underneath the colorful exterior, there's a different story. Life under the big top is not easy, and the performers are not as beautiful and perfect as they appear. They put on makeup every day, wear colorful costumes, move around with a lot of energy, and make the audience laugh through all of their performances. There is an art to their performances, and there's science in the laughter they create.
Williams then goes on to explain the contrast between the life of a circus performer and someone living a regular life outside of the circus. He suggests that the people outside the circus have nothing beautiful or colorful to look at, and they are stuck in the same town for a long time without any excitement. The circus performer's life requires a lot of love, and they have to comply with the rules around performance sizes, makeup, costumes, and behavior. The performers live to hear the laughter and the gasping from the audience, which gives them a sense of temporary happiness.
Overall, "Freakshow" is an insightful song about the life of a circus performer that offers a glimpse into what exists beyond the beautiful exterior that people see from the outside.
Line by Line Meaning
Life in the circus it ain't easy
Life inside the circus is difficult
but the people on the outside don't know
Unless you're a part of the circus, you cannot comprehend the true experience
the tent goes up and the tent comes down
The circus is temporary
and all that they see is the show
Audience only witnesses the performance
and the ladies on the horses look so pretty
Performers strive and look their best for the show
and the lions are lookin real mad
The animals are angry and stressed due to their captive lifestyle
and some of the clowns are happy
Some performers enjoy their roles and experiences
and some of the clowns are sad
Other performers don't enjoy their experience and disguise their emotions
But underneath
Beneath the surface
there's an expression
There's a genuine feeling
that the makeup is not making
Make-up can't mask the true emotion
life under the big top
Circus life
it's about freedom
Performers seek a sense of liberation
it's about faking
However, much of the performance is an act
there's an art to the laughter
Genuine happiness can be rare and difficult to attain
there's a science
The suspension of disbelief is a finely tuned and practiced technique
you need a lot of love
The circus community is held together through love
and compliance
Conformity is also a vital aspect of performing for the circus
We live to hear the slack-jawed gasping
Performers thrive from audience reactions
we live under a halo of held breath
The anticipation is overwhelming
and when the children raise up a giant shield
Children's laughter is the ultimate shield against harsh realities
of laughter, it's like they're fending off death
Laughter provides relief and escape from a grim reality
and we can make something bigger
Performers can come together to create something grand
then anyone of us alone
Individual efforts are not as effective as the collective
and then the clowns will take off their makeup
Performers will eventually drop their facade and reveal their true selves
and the people will go home
Eventually, the performance ends
But life on the outside ain't easy
Life outside the circus is also difficult
no sequins, no elephants, no parading around
The circus experience is unique and irreplaceable
yeah, the tent goes up and the tent comes down
The circus is temporary and can never be replicated
and they're stuck in this fucking town
Stuck in the reality they're in, performers can only dream of another life
Welcome to the freakshow here we go
Welcome to the circus where anything is possible, let the performance begin
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.