It's a quarter past midnight and she aint no Cinderella
She's swallowed all your best lines and she's staying in the hotel
You've got a number from the bar tab that she's running
The circus comes to town
Temptation! Oooh, such a temptation!
Such a temptation!
The cage door is open and you're living on the high wire
Clowning in the spotlight you've got no one to bring you down
The cab's impatient, this lady's willing
The ringmaster calls you down
Temptation! Oh, such a temptation!
Temptation! Oh, such a temptation!
The Carnival Man! So glad to know you
The Carnival Man! You're shaking hands with
The Carnival Man! So pleased to meet you
The Carnival Man! Call me Mister Temptation
Like a bullet in a chamber that you're thinking is empty
You press it to your temple with a finger on the trigger
An act of bravado, an act of defiance
It's all eyes upon you now
Temptation! Oh, such a temptation!
Temptation! Oh, such a temptation!
The Carnival Man! So glad to know you
The Carnival Man! You're shaking hands with
The Carnival Man! So pleased to meet you
The Carnival Man! Call me Mister Temptation
Is there anything you want?
Anything you desire?
Just tell me anything you need
They call me Mister Temptation
You're the life and soul of every party
Now you're walking wounded, just another casualty
You've got my sympathy, you've got my calling card
This call's collect
I'm the Carnival Man
You may remember me as Mister Temptation
Carnival Man
This is the day that the circus leaves town
Goodbye, Carnival Man
This is the day that the circus leaves town
Goodbye
This is the day that the circus leaves town

There is a long (well over a minute) instrumental break before the verse
beginning "You're the life and soul"
-- Geoff Parks