words and music by Joni Mitchell 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 down window," says Rowdy Yates "I can run you up and down Anytime I want I can make you my dancin'-- My dancin' clown!" You're my dancin' clown Dancin' dancin' My dancin' clown Dancin' You're my dancin' clown Dancin' dancin' dancin' My dancin' clown 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 thru," says Jesse Nervous, lookin' all around-- To see who's seein' him bein' a dancin' A dancin' clown He's a dancin' clown Dancin' dancin' A dancin' clown Dancin' He's a dancin' clown Dancin' dancin' dancin' A dancin' clown 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 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?" Be her dancin' clown Dancin' dancin' Her dancin' clown Dancin' Be her dancin' clown Dancin' dancin' dancin' Her dancin' clown 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