Date: Sun, 10 May 1998 21:22:57 -0400
From: Greg Yuriy 
Subject: r/russell_tom/the_greatest_show_on_earth.crd


The Greatest Show On Earth
==========================
by:  Tom Russell
written by:  Katy Moffat and Tom Russell


capo 1st fret

D              G       D                  G
Step up, buy a ticket - Front row, centre seat
D                 G        Em          A
A real live human drama of love and defeat
D                     G              D                        G
Don't worry 'bout the cost my friend, you'll get your money's worth
     D   A      Bm               Em       A       D     G  D  G
As a man and a woman star in the greatest show on earth


D                   G           D                   G
May I direct your attention now, to ring number one
D            G           Em                  A
A man and a woman, the affair has just begun
         D                   G            D                G
And they waltz beneath the spotlight to a round of warm applause
D                   G              Em            A
Then he puts on his clown mask and she her tiger claws
       Bm                 C              Bm                     C
As the band breaks into a rumba, they're blowing for all their worth
         D   A      Bm          Em       A       D     G  D  G
It's the end of act one, in the greatest show on earth


D                   G           D                     G
May I direct your attention now, to ring number three
D                 G            Em                    A
A man is in the spotlight, the clown is on his knees
D                      G               D               G
He's kneeling beside a dancer, who has fallen from the wire
D                 G                Em                A
Working without a net, was she the victim of desire?
        Bm              C                 Bm            C
And the crowd begins to wonder is this an act or is she hurt?
       D         A       Bm              Em       A       D     G  D  G
As the spotlight dims to darkness in the greatest show on earth


D                    G            D                    G
And now we're in the centre ring, they're lowering the cage
D                G              Em              A
The lion and the tigress acting out their final rage
D                   G                        D                 G
But little children don't be scared when you hear that closing song
D                   G              Em              A
The love affair has ended, but the show it must go on
        Bm                 C                  Bm              C
And the circus train moves down the line from Memphis to Fort Worth
D         A      Bm                 Em       A       D      G  D  G
Appearing now in your hometown, the greatest show on earth


D             G        D
Step up buy a ticket...


>From the album Beyond St. Olav's Gate Greatest Hits 1979-1992
Transcribed by:  Greg Yuriy
Feel free to send comments to g.yuriy@sympatico.ca