Circus music and Circus/Carnival-sounding songs

There are many songs that have a circus/carnival themed sound to it. Some songs' lyrical content is circus or carnival themed and others not. What are some of your favorites?

Oh and it is mandatory to everyone reading or posting in this thread to listen to this on repeat while in the thread:

 

Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Sunday's Best
The Damned - These Hands (which is also SUPER CREEPY)

And obviously there's one of these on Sgt. Pepper's that's pretty famous around here...

 

Well, I have no idea what that video clip is because youtube is blocked here at work, but the first two songs that popped into my head was "Tears Of A Clown" by The Miracles and "Life" by Sly and The Family Stone.

 

I would love to get some dark carnival or circus music.

 

The obvious "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite."

But also:

Goodbye Cruel World – James Darren
The Tears of a Clown – The Miracles
Paxton's Backstreet Carnival – Ultimate Spinach
Life Is a Carnival – The Band
The Clown – Conway Twitty

I don't remember the songs that well after all these years, but for looks there's Leon Russells Carney album.

 

Three Dog Night - The Show Must Go On. The opening is pure circus music!

 

Anything with a Calliope...or polka music

 

Circus Devils – Circus Devils Theme

 

I Me Mine (in a weird way)
Being For The Benefit Of Mr.Kite (guess what it's about too)

 

Bruce Springsteen Wild Billy's Circus Story
Tom Waits Dave The Butcher

 

Three Dog Night-Show Must Go On

 

The LOVE remix of Being For The Benefit Of Mr.Kite

I won't spoil the surprise in case you haven't heard it yet.

 

Steve Hackett- Circus of Becoming

 

No ones mentioned Dave Davies/Kinks -'Death Of A Clown'?

And Leo Sayers' original version, as well.

 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Carny

 

Nektar's "Down to Earth" LP has a running theme of a circus. Hawkwind's Bob Calvert appears as a sort of deranged German-accented ringmaster.

 

Todd Rundgren - The Night The Carousel Burnt Down

 

How about Kevin Ayers 'Joy of A Toy continued'

 

An eerie masterpiece.

 

I recommend Beat Circus and their album Ringleader's Revolt.

 

Circus Girl--Susannah Hoffs

and Robbie Robertson's soundtrack to Carny.

 

Syreeta Wright's Spinnin' and Spinnin' - real carnival atmosphere here, conjuring images of ferris wheels, candy floss, icecream vans and 1960s family friendly musicals:

 

Lots of songs by The Dresden Dolls.

 

Biff Rose -- "Molly"

The song starts with this lyric "when I was a young man I ran away from home and went to join the circus....."