[Chorus]

  G            D          G              D
Bring on the clowns, the jokers and buffoons,
              G                       D  
I’ve had the time of my life And the life of my time
        A          D
In the company of fools. 

[Verse]

 D                            G            D   
Many a truest word has been spoken by the jester,
  G                   D           A          D
standing against the tide is the noblest of gestures,
 D                             G               Bm
little pearls of wisdom, that tumble from the light,
             G              D               A                 D
can make us laugh until we cry because we know that they are right.

[Pre-Chorus]
 
    A                                   D
Within the strangest people, truth can find the strangest home,
    E                            A
so meet me in the village, where all we idiots go(go!)

[Chorus]

  G            D          G              D
Bring on the clowns, the jokers and buffoons,
              G                       D  
I’ve had the time of my life And the life of my time
        A          D
in the company of fools. 

[middle eight]

D      G            Bm     G
Na na natineutinee, na na natineutinee 
D      G            Bm    A     D
na na natineutinee, natineutnee na (ho!)

[Verse]
 
     D                                    G              D
I’m wading through the quicksand, in the gardens of the gentry,
  G         D            A                 D     
bloomin' vacuity leaves minds and pockets empty.
     D                         G               Bm   
Now, in the social order, I accept the bottom rung,
   G                D              A               D
until the wine is pouring and the lord commands a song.
 
[Pre-Chorus]

     A                                  D
So, meet me at the staff door when the posers all go home,
       E                                   A
we’ll gather with the other fools, and put on a proper show(show!)

[Chorus]

  G            D          G              D
Bring on the clowns, the jokers and buffoons,
              G                       D  
I’ve had the time of my life And the life of my time
        A           D
in the company of fools. 
  G            D          G              D
Bring on the clowns, the jokers and buffoons,
              G                       D  
I’ve had the time of my life And the life of my time
        A          D
in the company of fools. 

[middle eight]

D      G            Bm     G
Na na natineutinee, na na natineutinee 
D      G            Bm    A     D
na na natineutinee, natineutnee na (ho!)

[Bridge]

    A                               D
So here’s to the poorest poet who always pens the truth,
          G                D              A                   D
an' the players, writers, gypsies an'the minstrels and their tunes.
            A                              D
I’d rather live an honest lifetime, with those with nothing to lose,
      G       D           G        D            G         D
than waste a night, knee deep in shite, that’s polished slick
    G         D          G                               A          D
to look just right, I’d rather live a lifetime..,in the company of fools.

[Solo]
  
D G\F# G A X4

[Pre-Chorus]

    A                                   D
Within the strangest people, truth can find the strangest home,
    E                            A
so meet me in the village where all we idiots go,
 A
(all we idiots,all we idiots go...)

[bodhran only chorus]

N.C.
Bring on the clowns, the jokers and buffoons,
N.C. 
I’ve had the time of my life And the life of my time
N.C. 
In the company of fools. 

D      G            Bm     G
Na na natineutinee, na na natineutinee 
D      G            Bm    A     D
na na natineutinee, natineutnee na (ho!)

[outro in double time]

D G/F# G A