Dancin’ ClownJoni Mitchell

[Verse 1]
No, you couldn't call Jesse a babe in the woods
He's just weak in self-defense
'Cause he's so thin skinned
He can't take a joke at his expense
"You're a push button window," says Rowdy Yates
"I can run you up and down
Anytime I want, I can make you my dancin'
My dancin' clown!"

[Chorus]
You're my dancin' clown
Dancin' dancin', my dancin' clown
Dancin'
You're my dancin' clown
Dancin', dancin', dancin'
My dancin' clown

[Verse 2]
Rowdy Yates is as bold as Jove
He's all chide and snide and bluff
Stuck in the romantic tradition
Of acting rough and tough
"You're always charging through," says Jesse
Nervous, lookin' all around
To see who's seein' him bein' a dancin'
A dancin' clown

[Chorus]
He's a dancin' clown
Dancin', dancin', ddancin' clown
Dancin'
He's a dancin' clown
Dancin', dancin', dancin'
A dancin' clown

[Bridge]
Cherchez la femme
Whenever love comes around, someone's a dancin' clown
Cherchez la femme
Whenever hearts start to pound, someone's a dancin' clown

[Verse 3]
Down the street comes last-word Suzie
She's high yellow, lookin' top nice
You hear the swoosh of jungle blades
And the crackle of northern ice
"Hot damn!" says Rowdy, lookin' up
"Yum!" says Jesse, lookin' down
"How would you like to be her dancin'
Her dancin' clown?"

[Chorus]
Be her dancin' clown
Dancin', dancin', her dancin' clown
Dancin'
Be her dancin' clown
Dancin', dancin', dancin'
Her dancin' clown

[Bridge]
Cherchez la femme
Whenever love comes to town, someone's a dancin' clown
Cherchez la femme
Wherever hearts start to pound, someone's a dancin' clown