Today’s offering is a hand-animated music video, created for Madilyn Mei’s One Man Circus. Beneath the whimsy, the comedic lyrics and the humorous, nostalgic artistic approach is a song of quiet desperation.

All the world has color except the main character, who writes, produces, dances and sings for the pleasure of anyone who will turn their heads to look in their direction.

The music itself is a gorgeous tour de force of amazing vocals and flawless musicianship. It combines near perfection in musicianship with a tragic underlying message to which far too many of us can directly relate.

The song One Man Circus is from Madylin Mei’s album A Thousand Songs About It All. The animation itself was creaed by Jake Huffcut. See the description in the video itself for a list of Madylin Mei’s concert tour cities, the calendar for which stretches from September 17, 2025 through November 15. Tickets are available through her web site.

The Lyrics

I am a one man circus
I do everything
So incredibly
Since I’m the one that’s pullin all the strings
Give a bow
Tip your hat
Marvel at the fact
That there’s no list of writers on the screen
It’s just me, only me

Oooh
LA LA LA LA
Oooh
LA LA LA LA

I am the sole director
I’m the soul behind the show
Hell I AM the show
So give a clap, show some respect
Great job Mads, take five! Thanks Mads!
No prob Mads
I’m a gas, a lovely crowd
Make me laugh out loud
Even when no one else is around

I gotta do what I gotta do
I’ve got me and you’ve got you
If my shoulders were broad
I’d rule your world too
The fate of it all in my palms
You’d applaud
At the drop of a hat
You’d excuse all I do
I could dine at the Ritz in my birthday suit
But I’m hardly a man, and yet I’m hardly a girl
I’m the hand of God in my own little world

I am a one man circus
I’m the host if you will
And still I am also the tent
And the elephant in the room
My very own personal peanut gallery
And my own worst critic
And all my own five star reviews
I’m the spot with the best view
And can you guess it?
You’re also the best view!

Now you’re getting it!

Oooh
LA LA LA LA
Oooh
LA LA LA LA

I am a one man circus
I’m the singer and the song
And the writer and the dreamer
And the show that must go on
I’m the “silence all your cellphones please, yes even the buzz”
I’m the buzz that keeps you wanting more
And therefore coming back for more
Because

I’ll always do what I gotta do
I’ve got me, I don’t need you
No one can help even if they wanted to
I’m the player one and the player two
I’m the acrobat, I’m the net down below
Catching myself when I choose to let go
I’m the puppeteer and yet the puppet still
I’m a marionette at my very own will
I’m hardly a man, and yet I’m hardly a girl
I’m the hand of God in my own little world

I gotta do what I gotta do
I’ve got me and you’ve got you
Used to play the part well
But now it seems I forgot
You’ll never know who I am, who I’m not
Don’t look too close
Or it’ll seem odd
This world that you see
Can be quite the façade
You’ll still applaud
Not your job to ask
But backstage I know
I’m wearing a mask

And when I burn out
And I wish to be done
I’ll yank at my strings
It’s only Act 1