Meaning of "Roll Up" by The Tiger Lillies

The lyrics of "Roll Up" by The Tiger Lillies paint a vivid picture of a seedy and grim carnival where outcasts and misfits come together to perform for a morbid audience. The mention of characters like beerded ladies, muscle men, and pin-heads highlights the idea of society's fascination with the abnormal and the marginalized. The song explores themes of exploitation, decay, and the inevitability of death as part of the human experience. The repetition of "Roll Up" can be seen as a call to the audience to witness this macabre spectacle, almost like a reminder of the cycle of life and the perpetual nature of these displays of human oddities. Ultimately, the lyrics serve as a commentary on the dark underbelly of society and the lengths people will go to in order to survive and find acceptance, even if it means being part of a sideshow attraction.