What did I have to lose?
Be negative
I fled through the snow
Then never sat down
It's clear for today
You're sleazy at night
As soon as we hear we will run
Or start swinging
Start swinging

For below
They're begging for it
I want my way
Never settle
Always learning
People, they beg us for it
I'm on my way
Better settle
Almost there

This might just feed the mother of all our needs
Turning over heed

Luck must fight over me
And never give in
To weed out the soul
Replace it with salt
I live, weep, and sigh
In this bed of cement
How perfectly shadowed this circus

I start swinging
We start swinging

'Cause this might just feed the mother of all our needs
Turning over
Turning us so clear
The mother of all our needs
Turning over, turning us so

Just wonder more
For grabbing hold
Just wonder more
For grabbing hold
Wonder more
For grabbing hold

Below
They're begging for it
I want my way
Never settle
Always learning
People, they beg us for it
I'm on my way
Better settle
Almost there

This might just feed the mother of all our needs
Turning over
Turning us so clear
The mother of all our needs
Turning over, turning us so
Clear


Lyrics submitted by TheClincher01, edited by DeltaModz

This Circus Lyrics as written by Samuel Loeffler Peter Loeffler

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

This Circus song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

28 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    My Opinion

    I think this is one of the best songs Chevelle has put out. I got it with an EP I got at a concert and this track blew my balls off.

    I think this song is about looking for something better and the perseverence it takes.

    XxAntisaintxXon August 13, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I live, weep, and sigh in this bed of cement?? lol. sorry. It is "I live within sight of this Medicine Man, how perfectly sure of This Circus" Pete is a much better lyricist than I live weep and sigh in this bed of cement.

    adam108634on July 29, 2014   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love this song! lol

    But after hearing it more and more, I think it might actually say, "This might just feed the mother of all our needs" But I'm really not sure. Great job though.

    Twizzy-Doggon August 25, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Finally!

    This song is amazing, I can't wait for the new album.

    Lemon Scentedon August 05, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    looks pretty dead on too me...good job , but this is truely one of the first chevelle songs im having a hard time figuring out anything its about ..damn!

    anthonymedon August 10, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The lyrics seem spot on except for one thing. I believe the bridge says "For grabbing hold" instead of "While grabbing hold".

    Other than that, great job!

    beiselbon August 12, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    To me, this sounds like the song is about a person wanting something, but they have to do something they shouldn't do to get it.

    My 3rd favorite off Sci-Fi Crimes

    pastachickennugget42on August 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    IMHO,

    The song appears to be about a performers experience of feeding off the energy from an audience...Or specifically how Chevelle feels (and feeds off the energy) when they perform in front of people.

    ========

    "Below...They're begging for it":

    The fans of any event.

    "This might just be the mother of all our needs":

    Any performers need to get in front of an audience, lay it all out and feed on the energy.

    "I live, weep, and sigh...In this bed of cement...How perfectly shadowed this circus":

    How regular day-to-day life is tedious and regular.. But it is all overshadowed when they perform.

    "I start swinging... We start swinging": Metaphor for any performer doing their act on stage.

    Throwdown1on August 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I could be wrong but it sounds to me like he says "I lived with inside this medicine man. How perfectly sure of the circus"

    XxChevellionxXon August 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    also "what did I have to lose being negative" and "turning over, hurting us so clear" sounds correct

    XxChevellionxXon August 29, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.