Well in 1941 a happy father had a son 
And by 1944 the father walked right out the door 
And in '45 the mom and son were still alive 
But who could tell in '46 if the two were to survive 

Well the years were passing quickly 
But not fast enough for him 
So he close his eyes through '55 
And he opened them up again 
When he looked around he saw a clown 
And the clown seemed very gay 
And he set that night to join that circus clown and run away 

{Scat solo} 

Well he followed every railroad track 
An every highway sign 
And he had a girl in each new town 
And the towns he left behind 
And the open road 
Was the only road he knew 
But the color of his dreams 
Slowly turning into blue 

The he met a girl the kind of girl 
He wanted all his life 
She was soft and kind and good to him 
So he took her for a wife 
And they got a house not far from town 
And in a little while 
The girl had seen the doctor 
And she came home with a smile 

Now in 1961 a happy father had a son 
And by 1964 the father walked right out the door 
And in '65 the mom and son were still around 
But what will happen to the boy 
When the circus comes to town