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Carnival Lyrics by Kevin Devine

Brother’s Blood

2009

[Verse 1]
I quit the carnival
It moved next door
I thought I'd had enough
But I want more
So now I'm sneakin' out at night
I paint my face and shine my shoes
Go where I'm not supposed to

[Verse 2]
'Cause I tamed a lion once
I stole his roar
I stripped his pride away
But he found more
So now he's back to take what's his
And shove my future in my face
Scare me back in my place
So soon, so soon
You've got it beat
'Til it beats you

[Verse 3]
I left my flaming sword
Beside your bed
I woke to find it pressed
Against my neck
You wept "Suggestion never works
So now I'm trying something else"
I shut my eyes, hold on, oh well

[Verse 4]
I felt a feather fold
A tree trunk split
Inside my lion laughed
Played violin
He said you should give up your voice
Before we both end up destroyed
I quit alright, he purred, "Good boy"

[Verse 5]
"'Cause you'll believe anything"
And we went and copped
"You'll fall for anyone"
And I said, "That's not exactly true
Only you
I'll do what you do."

[Verse 6]
You wake in the hospital
In a thrift store suit
You hear your lover's voice
From the waiting room
You shut your eyes and pray for peace
Think "I'm not here, this isn't me
This isn't something I would do
I know the complicated truth
A make up mask, a lion's roar
A big top tent, a fire sword
But they're not real, they never were
And soon she won't be real either
This is the life you went and earned
Because you never fucking learn
And you could waste all of your years
Fixing the mess you're making here"
So as her nervous breath draws close
Her dress heels click off their approach
You clutch your chest and whisper
"Oh no, no what will I do?
What will I do?
My love, my love, oh, what will I do?" (Wake up)
Mh-mh, mh-mh, mh-mh-mh-mh-mh-mh-mh
Mh-mh, mh-mh, mh-mh-mh-mh-mh-mh-mh

[Outro]
Ooh-oh, uh-oh, oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-ooh
Ooh-oh, uh-oh, oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh-ooh
No-no, no-no
No-no, no-no
Credits
Kevin Devine

Kevin Devine

About “Carnival” by Kevin Devine

Read the complete lyrics to "Carnival" by Kevin Devine from the album "Brother’s Blood" in 2009. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock, Aa (Check Description), Pop.

"Carnival" is performed by Kevin Devine. from the album "Brother’s Blood" in 2009 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Carnival", explore more songs by Kevin Devine using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Kevin Devine · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Carnival" is credited to Kevin Devine. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Carnival" appears on "Brother’s Blood" in 2009.

Visit the Kevin Devine artist page at /artist/kevin-devine for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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