Being that this song is part of a concept album (Freak Show), there is a story that connects to other songs/characters mentioned in the songs. The first part of Wanda is sung by Tex, the ringleader at the freak show, where he talks about how he loves to see people get grossed out by Wanda, a sideshow geek who sucks worms (as mentioned in the album's liner notes).
The second Tex-sung verse is about how he loves Wanda as a person, but can't bear to be with her because of her appearance.
The verse sung by Wanda herself is, how I interpret it, about how she sees her performance as an art (even likening herself to the Mona Lisa). Fun fact: In the liner notes, there's also an illustration of Wanda that's a homage to the Da Vinci painting!
Wanda tries to put on a serene face, but is secretly miserable (shown by the song's last line).
This is only somewhat related, but fun fact: In the CD-ROM for Freak Show, there's a lot of religious imagery in Wanda's section of the game. This is because (as mentioned in the liner notes, once again), she was a nun before she joined the freak show.
Being that this song is part of a concept album (Freak Show), there is a story that connects to other songs/characters mentioned in the songs. The first part of Wanda is sung by Tex, the ringleader at the freak show, where he talks about how he loves to see people get grossed out by Wanda, a sideshow geek who sucks worms (as mentioned in the album's liner notes). The second Tex-sung verse is about how he loves Wanda as a person, but can't bear to be with her because of her appearance. The verse sung by Wanda herself is, how I interpret it, about how she sees her performance as an art (even likening herself to the Mona Lisa). Fun fact: In the liner notes, there's also an illustration of Wanda that's a homage to the Da Vinci painting! Wanda tries to put on a serene face, but is secretly miserable (shown by the song's last line).
This is only somewhat related, but fun fact: In the CD-ROM for Freak Show, there's a lot of religious imagery in Wanda's section of the game. This is because (as mentioned in the liner notes, once again), she was a nun before she joined the freak show.
[Edit: adding more info]