He walked up to front stage
More Lenny Bruce than Bruce Lee
Said, "Is there a doctor in the house?
My hands are all clammy
Spine is rubber, less lion than mouse"
Her makeup was a mess
Her tears pitch-perfect
You wonder why
And she said
"It's the way you treat the lions
All dressed up courageous
At the end of the night
It's all back to the cages
And I can't stand it
I, I can barely take it"
We'll take the long way back home
We'll take the long way back home
A cloud or a [?], fine spectacle
A true talent, wouldn't you agree
The favor a week-old
The headlines of the county
It's quite a thing to see
My story was a mess
My tears pitch-perfect
She asked why, I said is it
The townies and cardies
All dressed up courageous

At the end of the night
It's back to the cages
And I can't stand it
I can barely take it
We'll take the long way back home
Let's take the long way back home
The best nights are those
Where the chest is broken open
And the heart feels so big it could fill the whole ocean
Before we close it, before we close down
Just dance with me
And we won't call it dancing
Just moving and standing in one place
And there with the lions, certain, courageous
At the end of the night, it's still back to the cages
And I can't take it
The whole night I'll be waiting
Let's take the long way back home
We'll take the long way back home
We'll take the long way back home
We'll take the long way back home
We'll take the long way back home