Carnival Barker from Foxhole Prayers by Vanessa Peters

the war was done and money flowed like black oil from the ground
there was a tempest in a teapot dome but it didn't make a sound
in every town you could find a talking head to tell you how it'd be
how america could really turn a profit if we'd only set her free

but there was this carnival barker we were all warned about
they told us to steer clear of him when he came to our town
you'll get a circus, history told us, if you vote for a clown
but the grifters pitched their tents and the good word got drowned out

so maybe round the edges he was a little rough
but he had a pitch and he said his lines and talked real tough
and they put our country up for sale, waved a flag and called it truth
now I lie awake at night wondering what we'll do

‘cause there is this carnival barker we were all warned about
they told us to steer clear of him when he came to our town
you'll get a circus, history told us, if you vote for a clown
but the grifters pitched their tents and the good word got drowned out

playing both sides perfectly until they had us beat
now they're filling coffers in their towers and taking down main street

and there was this carnival barker we were all warned about
they told us to steer clear of him when he came to our town
you'll get a circus, history told us, if you vote for a clown
but the grifters pitched their tents and the good word got drowned out

• Folk
• folk rock
• indie folk
• pop folk
• roots
• singer-songwriter
• Austin