Carnival Cipher

Round and round with a smile painted on Funny how the joke

cuts down to bone

I walk in laughing,

but the room stay tense Cheap applause,

all pride at my expense They clap when I slip,

want a trip, want a scene Big top manners with a back

row scheme Face full of paint,

but the bills stay due Everybody loves a fool till the fool

sees through I learned real quick who was feeding on doubt

Same ones saying chill when the truth come out

You can laugh if you want to

I know what I'm worth now

Paint running under bright heat

Still I hold my nerve now

Clowning around, but I don't fall down Turn that little joke to

a gold crown You came for a laugh,

now you look at me

I make art from the mess you see Clowning around,

but I'm dead on time Tears in the paint,

still the lines all shine

Funny how the mask make people talk so brave Hidden in a

crowd, throwing dirt from safe I was in the cold making moves

off scraps You were in the back making memes,

not maps Now the same floor shake when my name gets said

Truth hits harder than the rumors you spread I kept my chin

up when the rent ran late Now I send clean verses right

back to fate

If I bend, I don't break

If I smile, that's my blade

You can frame me as a game

I still leave here unashamed Clowning around,

but I don't fall down Turn that little joke to a gold

crown You came for a laugh,

now you look at me

I make art from the mess you see Clowning around,

yeah I'm still that flame Made a whole future out a wild

old name

Round and round, I found my way

Painted tears wash off today