[Verse 1]
Tiny hands
Yes, that's you
And all you show
It's simply true
I smell your breath
It makes me cry
I wonder how I've lived my life
[Chorus]
'Cause without you
How did I get through all of my days without you?
Now living with you, see everything's true
My baby, it's you
My baby, my baby, my baby
[Verse 2]
With no words at all
So tiny and small
In love, I fall so deep, so deep
My precious love sent from above
My baby boo, God I thank you
God, I thank you
[Chorus]
'Cause without you
How did I get through all of my days without you?
Now living with you, see everything's true
My baby, it's you
My baby, my baby, my baby
'Cause without you
How did I get through all of my days without you?
Now living with you, see everything's true
My baby, it's you
My baby, my baby, my baby
Circus is a pop[18] and dance[19] record, which has been described as a sequel to Spears' fifth studio album Blackout.[20] Spears described the album as "lighter" than Blackout, which was more urban sounding.[7] Its "fiery" and "confrontational" lyrics have been also compared to those of its predecessor.[21][failed verification] The album has been compared to the works of Janet Jackson,[22] Eurythmics,[23] New Order[24] and the songwriting of Prince,[23] Leiber & Stoller and Phil Spector.[24] Circus incorporates themes that were acknowledged in Spears's earlier work. "Circus" and "Kill the Lights" discuss fame, which was previously seen in "Piece of Me",[20] while "Womanizer" and "Shattered Glass" talk about a womanizing man.
Circus opens with its lead single "Womanizer". It features synth sirens with a repetitive chorus, and lyrically discusses a cheating man; it was described by Spears as a girl anthem.[25] "Circus" addresses her feelings as an entertainer and performing, highlighted in the lines "All eyes on me in the centre of the ring just like a circus / When I crack that whip everybody gonna trip just like a circus". Its electronic dance elements were compared by PopJustice to those of Spears's earlier single "Break the Ice".[26] The ballad "Out from Under" incorporates acoustic guitar backings. "Kill the Lights" is a dance-pop song that talks about Spears's conflict with paparazzi. Critics noted similarities to Spears's own "Piece of Me".[20] "Shattered Glass" utilizes dark electronic beats and details a non-repairable relationship.
"If U Seek Amy" integrates "glam-rave" elements with traditional pop styles;[27] it gained controversy for its double entendre, where the title sounds phonetically like "F-U-C-K me".[28] The electropop track "Unusual You" deals with a woman finding unexpected love. It has been compared to musical themes from the 1980s and 1990s, and has been noted as a "pulsating ballad", with the song also drawing comparisons to the "shimmering waterfall mood first popularized by Janet Jackson".[22][29][30] "Blur", which features Spears singing in a lower register, sees the inclusion of urban influences, and lyrically recalls the morning after a party with lyrics "Can't remember what I did last night/I gotta get my head right, where the hell am I? Who are you? What'd we do last night?";[31] it drew similarities to Spears' song "Early Mornin" from In the Zone.[18] "Mmm Papi" draws elements from a 1960s go-go rock guitar[29][32] and Latin-pop dance hall themes. Despite its "fun" nature, it was criticized for appearing to "revisit the Lolita persona of "…Baby One More Time".[33] It has been suggested that its lyrics deal with either Spears's father Jamie or paparazzo Adnan Ghalib.[18] "Mannequin" is a dance-pop song with a trip hop influence; while being noted for its "risky" and "futuristic" nature, it has also been suggested that Spears's vocals sounded "lifeless".[34] "Lace and Leather" is an electro-funk[35] track which gained comparisons to "Control era Janet Jackson", Prince, and Vanity 6's works from the 1980s and featured a then-unknown Kesha as a backing vocalist.[23][36] "My Baby", described as having a "faux-Janet Jackson vocal",[37] was written by Spears about her two sons Sean Preston and Jayden James Federline.[22][18]