Three speakers perform a song about emotional suppression using circus imagery. A baby watches the circus with discomfort while a mentor figure urges them to hide feelings, paint on a smile, and dance without safety nets. The piece cycles through warnings not to cry out loud, reinforcing how we learn to conceal pain behind performance.
Baby cried the day the circus came to town, 'cause she didn't like parades just passing by, oh.
So she painted on a smile and took up with some clown. And she danced without a net upon the wire.
I know a lot about her, 'cause you see, my baby is an awful lot like me. Don't cry out loud.
No, just keep it inside. And learn how to hide your feelings. Fly high and bright, and if you should fall, remember we almost had air to walk on the moon.
Baby saw that when they pulled the big tug, they left behind the dreams of an unbeloved Earth.
And the different kind of love she thought she'd found. There was nothing left but sawdust and some glitter.
But baby can't be broken, 'cause you see, she had the finest teacher, and that was me. I told her, don't cry out loud. Just keep it together.
Keep it inside. Learn how to hide your feelings. Fly high and proud. And if you should fall, remember you almost had it all. Don't cry. Don't cry. Just keep it inside. Don't cry. And learn how to hide your feelings. Don't cry. And learn how to hide your feelings. Don't cry. And if you should fall, remember you won't stay there. Don't cry out loud, just keep it inside. And learn how to hide your feelings. High and proud. And if you should fall, remember you are a hero. Oh, you're a hero.
House lights out.
