Well, once upon a time, there was a happy ending to this story, but you won't hear one today. The man is sweating bullets, and his heart beats old a cold tattoo, as the band begins to play So everybody stand, everybody won't you give a big hand, To the man on the burning tightrope He's always walked this tightrope, Between the devil and the deep blue sea A monkey on a wire But he's drunk his cup of sorrow He's thrown his curses at the moon Manifestos on the fire So everybody stand, everybody won't you give a big hand, To the man on the burning tightrope Come on people, let's hear it
Put your hands together for the one, the only, the dying man on the burning tightrope Hello George, it only takes one plan(?) to blow the whole parade He could've been somebody, he could've been somebody else Yes, it could've been much worse But now the show is over, people There's really nothing more to see Hope you got your money's worth So everybody stand, everybody won't you give a big hand, To the man on the burning tightrope Is it just me, or is it getting a little warm in here? Inch by inch, mile by mile, by day by day, by year by year.. Come on, people! Put your hands together