Cliches abound in your average band biography. And … Read Full Bio ↴A bio:
Cliches abound in your average band biography. And although much positive hyperbole has been heaped upon Skittish in the last 7 years, the best description came early on:
“Skittish is Folk Rock, with Thorns.” From double albums of literary infused neo-folk, to the latest EP of crunching and pulsing rock, this has never been more true.
Based on the psychological concept of the 5 Stages of Grief that people go through when experiencing massive changes in their lives, each song represents a different stage, a different voice, the different personalities we all have when the flood of chemicals in our brain tilt us one way or another. Entirely written and recorded by Noller, it dances the listener from denial to acceptance in 25 minutes.
The sound of the album seems to conjure Trent Reznor and Conor Oberst meeting in a support group, building a time machine, and heading back to the dawn of the Industrial Revolution to make a record in an old factory.
Skittish calls Minnesota home, and through all the national tours, SXSW successes, CMJ charting albums, and nation-wide exposure, there has been one permanent member of Skittish: Jeff Noller. Minnesota born and bred, and sprung from the same hometown as Garrison Keillor, Noller crafts songs that are at times folky, rough, weird, and bitingly sarcastic. All with literary flair and more hooks than a tackle box. He has written and recorded all Skittish albums in a hand-built lean-to of a studio in St Paul, Minnesota.
Recently signed to Spectra Records, Noller has gathered up the best talent the Twin Cities have to offer: Brianna Tagg, a member of numerous notable Minnesota bands including The Dweebs, adds instrumentation and powerful lead vocals and harmonies. While Jeremy Krueth and Lazarus Ulysses Clearwater have been bouncing their rhythm section off the walls of dark Midwest clubs for years.
Cliches aside, the only description you need is: Skittish is folk rock...with thorns.
Welcome to the circus
Skittish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where you are put on display
Don't be so nervous
You really don't have a say
You barely opened up your eyes
You've had no chance to have a life
Replace the monkey in this rotating cage
Welcome to your new home
We brought the zoo home
And they've all got their own keys
Just pretend that they aren't in the room
Act the way you always do
It's never quiet so don't bother with sleep
And we will pick apart your mind
As you are breaking down
We'll continue laughing
After all, you're just a silly clown
Pay attention to what you're saying
Make sure it's entertaining
Lights. Camera. Welcome to your life.
Welcome to the circus
The one and only parade
Where you can serve us
Our entertainment and pay
We're eating popcorn in the stands
Conductor's striking up the band
The curtain's opening
They're lighting the stage
Welcome to this most spectacular of festivities
Where we eat off the table
While you eat off of our feet
As you will grow we won't forget
No, we'll be with you every step
Isn't is comforting to know we are here?
Oh
And we will pick apart your mind
As you are breaking down
And we'll continue laughing
After all, you're just a silly clown
Pay attention to what you're saying
Make sure it's entertaining
Lights. Camera. Welcome to your life.
It's safe to say now
That you're not just a face in a crowd
We've got you in our magazines
Your world is our fantasy
Count your blessings now, child
When you're beneath the blade
We'll be right there waiting
Waiting, waiting, waiting.
On your every word, we're hanging on your every word
We're hanging on your every word, we're hanging on your every word
We're hanging for your every word, we're hanging for your every word
We'll hang you for your every word, we'll hang you, take you down
And we will pick apart your mind
As you are breaking down
And we'll continue laughing
After all, you're just a silly clown
Pay attention to what you're saying
Make sure it's entertaining
Lights. Camera. Welcome to your...
Lights. Camera. Welcome to your.
Lights. Camera. Welcome to your life
The song “Welcome to the Circus” by Skittish welcomes the listener to a metaphorical circus where they are the main attraction. The lyrics suggest that the listener is being watched and judged by a crowd of onlookers who are eagerly waiting for entertainment. The lyrics also suggest an underlying theme of control and manipulation, as the onlookers seem to have complete power over the listener, and the listener is forced to conform to their expectations.
The lyrics describe the listener as being placed on display, unable to have a say and forced to perform for their audience. The metaphorical circus is portrayed as a place where animals and freaks are kept as well, suggesting that the listener is being treated as part of the spectacle rather than as a person. The lyrics suggest that as the listener tries to break free from the audience's control, they are picked apart and ridiculed for their attempts.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the power dynamic between the listener and the audience, with lights and cameras shining on them as they are forced to entertain. The listener is reminded that they are merely a clown in this circus, and their only purpose is to keep the audience entertained. The lyrics suggest that the audience will not allow the listener to leave, describing how they will be with them every step of the way.
Overall, the song “Welcome to the Circus” by Skittish provides an insight into the idea of control and the pressure to entertain in the metaphorical circus of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the circus
You are now part of our exhibition, enjoy the show.
Where you are put on display
You are here for our amusement and entertainment.
Don't be so nervous
Relax, you have no choice but to be here.
You really don't have a say
Your opinion and objections don't matter.
You barely opened up your eyes
You are new and inexperienced, naive even.
You've had no chance to have a life
You have no idea what the world is like outside this circus, this is your only reality.
Replace the monkey in this rotating cage
You are now a part of our spectacle, just like a monkey at a zoo.
Welcome to your new home
You will be living here for the foreseeable future.
With all the animals and freaks
You will be surrounded by strange and odd characters.
We brought the zoo home
We have created our own personal zoo with you as one of the attractions.
And they've all got their own keys
Everyone here has their own role, and they all have control over their own lives.
Just pretend that they aren't in the room
Ignore those around you, keep to yourself.
Act the way you always do
Be yourself, even if it's weird and unusual.
It's never quiet so don't bother with sleep
It's always noisy here, so don't even try to sleep.
And we will pick apart your mind
We will analyze and scrutinize every aspect of you.
As you are breaking down
As you lose your mind under the pressure and constant attention.
We'll continue laughing
We find your suffering and pain amusing.
After all, you're just a silly clown
We see you as nothing more than an entertainment, even if it's a clown.
Pay attention to what you're saying
Be careful what you say, everything you say will be judged.
Make sure it's entertaining
Make everything you say and do interesting and entertaining.
Lights. Camera. Welcome to your life.
Welcome to your new reality where everything you do is on display.
The one and only parade
The one and only show in town, everyone comes to see us.
Where you can serve us
You are here to serve and entertain us.
Our entertainment and pay
We pay you to entertain us.
We're eating popcorn in the stands
We are unaffected by what's happening down here, we are here to be entertained.
Conductor's striking up the band
We are getting ready for your performance, are you ready?
The curtain's opening
It's showtime!
They're lighting the stage
You are now under the spotlight.
Where we eat off the table
We eat off the finest plates, while you are starving.
While you eat off of our feet
You are scraping for crumbs while we live like kings.
As you will grow we won't forget
We will always have control over you, no matter how much you grow up.
No, we'll be with you every step
We will always be watching and controlling your every move.
Isn't it comforting to know we are here?
You are never alone, we are always watching you.
And we'll continue laughing
We are amused by your discomfort and misery.
It's safe to say now
Now that we have control over you, you are safe here and have no way out.
That you're not just a face in a crowd
You are now one of our attractions, not just another person in the crowd.
We've got you in our magazines
We have made you famous, even if it's for the wrong reasons.
Your world is our fantasy
We control your reality, you are living in our world now.
Count your blessings now, child
Be thankful that you have a place in our circus, even if it's not what you want.
On your every word, we're hanging on your every word
We are always listening, watching and waiting for you to say or do something interesting.
We're hanging on your every word, we're hanging on your every word
We will not leave you alone, we will always be hanging on your every word.
We're hanging for your every word, we're hanging for your every word
We need you to entertain and amuse us, you have no choice but to do so.
We'll hang you for your every word, we'll hang you, take you down
We will hold you accountable for everything you say, and we will punish you if we don't like it.
Contributed by Gabriel W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.