Through hoops and secret panels, down the slip and slide,
Faith finds a way to the other side,
But you are tempted to be clever, it seems to do the trick,
Pick a number; you've got a thousand shticks.

But certain crowds are tough,
Someone has called your bluff,
Your timing's out of step,
You've drowned in your own sweat.

You've become a firewalker, and work the centre ring,
But you never learned to walk on water 'cause you can't pull any strings.

They pardon you when you leave a few cards up your sleeve.

You wear a beard, a magic turban,
Charm and hypnotise,
Handle snakes, take flying-carpet rides,
Trap doors and wires, smoke and mirrors ' tools of the wonder trade,
False-bottom trunks conceal the big charade.

It's taken years to learn how not to crash and burn,
There's little glory in just learning how to swim.

You've become a firewalker, and work the centre ring,
But you never learned to walk on water 'cause you can't pull any strings.

You conceal, misdirect, disappear, stack the deck.

Jump and tumble, hurdy-gurdy,
That's the confidence man,
A little truth, a little sleight of hand.

Sometimes we grasp the truth when we have lost our youth,
Sometimes we live and die still clinging to a lie.

You've become a firewalker, and work the centre ring,
But you never learned to walk on water 'cause you can't pull any strings.

Someone's laughing,
Someone knows you're not wearing any clothes.

Still I am tempted to be clever; this seems to do the trick.