I think this song is about the circus after all the animals have left. It sounds like the circus is using tricks and tactics to get people to come to the circus, using fiji mermaids and harlequins to replace them, but the circus is suffering financially. Julian the Onion also touches on this issue. I'm not so sure about the last few lines and how they tie in, but this is just my own interpretation.
I think this song is about the circus after all the animals have left. It sounds like the circus is using tricks and tactics to get people to come to the circus, using fiji mermaids and harlequins to replace them, but the circus is suffering financially. Julian the Onion also touches on this issue. I'm not so sure about the last few lines and how they tie in, but this is just my own interpretation.