They say little girls fall in love with their fathers;
Well, my daddy was a carnie with a traveling show.
Sideshow prince, the king of the midway --
My mama was a one-night stand in Idaho.
Mama did her best with what my daddy gave her,
Taught me right from wrong and told me to behave.
I tried to be good, but my best couldn't save her,
And I hit the road while Mama was still warm in her grave.
A ticket to the freakshow if you please,
I've gone and caught my heritage just like a disease.
There's no vaccination for what's bred in the bone.
The angels take the good, the devil takes his own.
They say little girls are all sugar and sunshine;
Well, I was made of ticket stubs and carnival glass.
Play to win, follow the lady --
A dollar and a quarter for an all-night pass.
I struck out to the west without a glance behind me,
Nothing in my pocket but a hand and a prayer.
The shadows crashed down so the light couldn't find me;
No one ever promised me that life would be fair.
A ticket to the freakshow if you please,
I've gone and caught my heritage just like a disease.
There's no vaccination for what's bred in the bone.
The angels take the good, the devil takes his own.
They say little girls should be seen and be silent;
Well, I was screaming loud enough to turn back the wind.
Miles to go, no rest for the wicked --
I guess I'm just my daddy's daughter in the end.
Mama's just a phantom on the midnight midway,
Daddy works the ticket booth while I work the crowd.
You can't change your nature -- I learned that the hard way.
So I'll follow the lady 'til I make Daddy proud.
A ticket to the freakshow if you please,
I've gone and caught my heritage just like a disease.
There's no vaccination for what's bred in the bone.
The angels take the good, the devil takes his own.
They say little girls fall in love with their fathers;
Well, my daddy was a carnie with a traveling show.
Sideshow prince, the king of the midway --
My mama was a one-night stand in Idaho.
Written on: 2007-05-22. Seanan McGuire