Sweeping The Spotlight Away
Murray McLauchlan Lyrics

Here's a plain simple song, without much to say
This is a straightforward song without much depth or complexity.

For times when plain circumstance
This song is for moments when things are simple and ordinary.

Finds me with someone whose world is all wrong
Written for those feeling lost and struggling.

So they feel like they don't have a chance
This song acknowledges that some people feel defeated and hopeless.

It's alright to learn from the times you're a fool
Mistakes should not be ignored but instead used as opportunities to grow and learn.

But it don't pay to dwell on the past
However, we shouldn't spend too much time focusing solely on our past mistakes.

Sometimes I think, I'm really a clown
The singer sometimes feels like a fool or an outsider in his own journey through life.

But there's plenty of time left for that
But he recognizes that there is still plenty of life left to live, and he doesn't need to take himself too seriously.

The sun's goin' down on the midway tonight
The day is ending, and the carnival is closing down for the night.

The red stripes are turning to grey
The bright colors of the carnival are losing their luster.

But old Emmett's still out in the big top tonight
The weary circus workers, like old Emmett, are still working hard despite the long day.

Sweeping the spotlight away
They are cleaning up the stolen spotlight and preparing for the next day's show.

Here's a song for the rain on the trash can lids
The song celebrates and finds beauty in the mundane, everyday moments of life, such as rain on a trash can lid.

And the nights when there ain't much to do
This song acknowledges that sometimes life can be boring, and there isn't much to do.

Here's a song for the face
This song is for those people who are always listening and offering support, despite their own struggles.

That it sometimes seems
Those people may always seem to be the ones that others confide in and tell their problems to.

People always tell their troubles to
The song recognizes that some people are natural listeners and comforters.

You might see a trace of a greasepaint face
Those who listen and offer support may also be hiding their own pain and struggles.

On everyone comin' around
Many people are struggling, and it can be hard to see through their outward appearances.

Don't you always laugh with a tear in your eye
Sometimes life can be so hard that we have to laugh to keep from crying.

When you laugh at a sad faced clown
Even though clowns in the circus are meant to be funny, sometimes we can see the sadness behind their painted-on smiles.

Somewhere there's a child that everyone hides
Everyone carries a part of themselves that they keep hidden from others.

A prisoner that longs to be free
Sometimes, that hidden part of ourselves feels trapped and longs to be free and seen for who we truly are.

Boys and girls in a fantasy world
The inner child in each of us sometimes longs for a more imaginative and carefree world.

But I guess I'm just talkin' for me
The singer acknowledges that these thoughts and feelings are his own.

But I feel him there, behind me somewhere
Despite being hidden, the singer's inner child is still there and affects him in some way.

When the streetlights reflect in the rain
Sometimes the beauty of the world around us can evoke strong emotions and memories.

The sad-faced clown with his mouth turned down
The artist connects with the sad clown, as they both have parts of themselves that they feel they must hide.

Sweeping the spotlight away
Even though the carnival is ending, life goes on, and we must continue to clean up and move forward.