The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Once I went to the circus and I saw this clown
Well he was the kind of clown who makes you want to do things you shouldn't
You know, bad things
Bozo, oh no no
Goo goo ga ga ga
Oh no bla bla bla
What's in your clown plants
I want your big nose, I want your red mouth
I want to find out what you've got down south
I want your gloves on my ass
Your big blue gloves
Gloves gloves gloves
Krusty and Bozo are telling me lies
Ronald McDonald is selling me fries
It's only you
Can't resist your giant shoes
And you know what they say about big shoes, don't you
You know what I like
When they start to fit tight
I want them bad, your big clown pants
I want your suitcase, I want your freckles
You and me inside your big clown pants
I want a change to juggle your balls
Can I get inside your big clown pants?
Oh Bongo, so hot in your big clown pants
Oh Bongo, what have you got inside your big clown pants?
Your unicycle or your pogo stick
I wanna do you while you're doing a trick
I'm on my knees when you swing on your trapeze
And I like the show from down here
I like your hair, it's so stiff and blue
I'd crash a birthday to be with you and your balloons
Just make a snake you hot buffoon
Don't give me popcorn, just honk your bike horn
I want 'em bad, your big clown pants
So big and baggy, your red polka dots
I wanna get inside your big clown pants
I'll be the bottom, you'll be the big top
Let's get you out of those big clown pants
Oh Koko (I want your clown pants)
So hot in your big clown pants (I want your clown pants)
Oh Bongo (I want your clown pants)
I wanna get inside your big clown pants (I want your clown pants)
Lion tamers drive me crazy
Acrobats are so damn lazy
Come with me, I don't mean maybe
Let me be your clown bitch baby
It turns me on when you do mine
Like when you're trapped inside a box like mine
Let's get nasty now in your tiny car
In your tiny car
In your tiny car
In your tiny car
I love your j-j-j-j-joker face
Want to sit on your j-j-j-j-joker face
Your red suspenders, your strange little dog
A man with makeup is my kind of guy
You make me weak, you big circus freak
Those fuzzy buttons just get me high
Bozo, oh no no
Goo goo ga ga ga
Binky bla bla bla
What's in your clown plants
Is that an explosive bag of nuts in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
Well he was the kind of clown who makes you want to do things you shouldn't
You know, bad things
Bozo, oh no no
Goo goo ga ga ga
Oh no bla bla bla
What's in your clown plants
I want your big nose, I want your red mouth
I want to find out what you've got down south
I want your gloves on my ass
Your big blue gloves
Gloves gloves gloves
Krusty and Bozo are telling me lies
Ronald McDonald is selling me fries
It's only you
Can't resist your giant shoes
And you know what they say about big shoes, don't you
You know what I like
When they start to fit tight
I want them bad, your big clown pants
I want your suitcase, I want your freckles
You and me inside your big clown pants
I want a change to juggle your balls
Can I get inside your big clown pants?
Oh Bongo, so hot in your big clown pants
Oh Bongo, what have you got inside your big clown pants?
Your unicycle or your pogo stick
I wanna do you while you're doing a trick
I'm on my knees when you swing on your trapeze
And I like the show from down here
I like your hair, it's so stiff and blue
I'd crash a birthday to be with you and your balloons
Just make a snake you hot buffoon
Don't give me popcorn, just honk your bike horn
I want 'em bad, your big clown pants
So big and baggy, your red polka dots
I wanna get inside your big clown pants
I'll be the bottom, you'll be the big top
Let's get you out of those big clown pants
Oh Koko (I want your clown pants)
So hot in your big clown pants (I want your clown pants)
Oh Bongo (I want your clown pants)
I wanna get inside your big clown pants (I want your clown pants)
Lion tamers drive me crazy
Acrobats are so damn lazy
Come with me, I don't mean maybe
Let me be your clown bitch baby
It turns me on when you do mine
Like when you're trapped inside a box like mine
Let's get nasty now in your tiny car
In your tiny car
In your tiny car
In your tiny car
I love your j-j-j-j-joker face
Want to sit on your j-j-j-j-joker face
Your red suspenders, your strange little dog
A man with makeup is my kind of guy
You make me weak, you big circus freak
Those fuzzy buttons just get me high
Bozo, oh no no
Goo goo ga ga ga
Binky bla bla bla
What's in your clown plants
Is that an explosive bag of nuts in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
Lyrics submitted by JohnnyLurg
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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