It uses a circus theme as a metaphor for dealing with the difficulties and wrong choices of life. When Sayer performed the song when it was a hit, he performed it dressed as a pierrot clown. The opening motif quotes Julius Fucik's "Entrance of the Gladiators" which is commonly associated with circus clowns.
The Show Must Go On
Three Dog Night Lyrics
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It seems it's strangling me now
All the wild men, big cigars, gigantic car
They're all laughing at the lie
Oh, I've been used, ouuh
I've been a fool oh, what a fool
I broke all the rules oh, yeah
Baby, there's an enormous crowd of people
They're all after my blood
I wish maybe they'd tear down the walls of this theater
Let me out, let me out
Oh, I'm so blind oh, I'm blind
I wasted time wasted, wasted, wasted time
Walking on the wire, high wire
But I must let the show go on
Oh, I'm so blind oh, I'm blind
I wasted time wasted, wasted, all too much time
Walking on the wire, high wire
But I must let the show go on
Baby, I wish you'd help me escape
Help me get away
Leave me outside my address
Far away from this masquerade
'Cause I've been blind oh, so blind
I wasted time wasted, wasted, all too much time
Walking on the wire, high wire
But I must let the show go
I must let the show go
I must let the show go on
"The Show Must Go On" by Three Dog Night is a song about the tolls of fame and the pressure to keep up appearances, even when things are falling apart. The singer in the song finds himself feeling suffocated by the lifestyle that he has chosen as a performer. He is surrounded by extravagant men with cigars and cars, who are all laughing at the lie of his persona. He has broken the rules, and now feels like a fool. He wishes he could escape the enormous crowd of people who are "after his blood," and tear down the walls of the theater, but he knows he can't. He must continue to walk the high wire, even though it seems like a waste of time.
The repetition of the lines "Oh, I'm so blind, oh, I'm blind" highlights the singer's desperation and sense of detachment from his own life. He is aware that he is wasting time, but feels like he has no other option than to keep performing. He begs his partner to help him escape the masquerade and find a way to leave the lifestyle behind. But ultimately, he knows that he must let the show go on.
The lyrics of "The Show Must Go On" can be interpreted as a commentary on the music industry and the pressures that performers face to maintain their image and persona. It also speaks to the tolls that fame can take on one's mental health and sense of self. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "I must let the show go on," can be seen as a mantra that performers use to remind themselves to keep going, even when things are difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, although I chose this lonely life
Even though I made the choice to live a lonely life, I feel like it's suffocating me now.
It seems it's strangling me now
I feel like this life I chose is now choking the life out of me.
All the wild men, big cigars, gigantic car
All these extravagant things around me, like the wild parties, cigars, and flashy cars, are just part of the illusion I've created for myself.
They're all laughing at the lie
Everyone around me is just pretending to be happy and successful, while in reality it's all just a facade.
Oh, I've been used, ouuh
I now realize that I've been taken advantage of by many people.
I've been a fool oh, what a fool
I now see that I've been foolish in my choices and actions.
I broke all the rules oh, yeah
I've disregarded all the rules and standards that society has placed on me.
But I must let the show go on
Despite all of this, I know I must continue with the charade and keep up appearances to avoid exposing the truth.
Baby, there's an enormous crowd of people
There are so many people watching me and scrutinizing every move I make.
They're all after my blood
Everybody wants to see me fail and fall from grace.
I wish maybe they'd tear down the walls of this theater
I wish someone would come along and reveal what's really happening behind the scenes.
Let me out, let me out
I want to escape from this fake persona and be free from the pressure and scrutiny.
I'm so blind oh, I'm blind
I've been oblivious to the reality of the situation for so long and can't see the truth.
I wasted time wasted, wasted, wasted time
I've spent so much time living a lie and now realize it was all for nothing.
Walking on the wire, high wire
I've been walking a fine line, trying to balance this fake persona while avoiding exposure.
But I must let the show go on
Once again, I know I have to keep up the act and continue the performance despite everything that's happening.
Baby, I wish you'd help me escape
I long for someone to help me break free from this fake life.
Help me get away
I need someone to help me escape this charade and start over.
Leave me outside my address
Take me away from my current life and leave me somewhere else where I can be free and happy.
Far away from this masquerade
I want to be far away from this fake persona that I've created and the pressure that comes with it.
I must let the show go
Even though I want to escape, I know I can't just walk away from everything I've created.
I must let the show go
Once again, I know I have to continue the act, even though I want to escape.
I must let the show go on
Despite everything, I know I have to keep up the performance and not let anyone see the truth.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Roger Taylor, John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christine Shire
on My Impersonal Life
Who sang vocals for this