Lyric discussion by gablegrove 

Cover art for Reptiles lyrics by Them Crooked Vultures

it COULD be about a circus, if you mean the world is a stage, and the reptiles are the ring masters. Because this is about a reptilian race/government that is in current control of our world and possibly thoughts/feelings/actions. Whether you believe it or not, that's what these lyrics mean. If you take this context and run with it throughout the whole album, the lyrics almost seem to be recruiting you, "wake up, this is what's going down, these are the lies, now get out there and live."