"Carnival" is a song written and produced by singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant and was the lead single from her debut solo album, Tigerlily (1995). In the lyrics, the protagonist describes a street scene as a carnival. Merchant was inspired to write the song after visiting New York City for the first time when she was 16, claiming she was fascinated with the residents' unusual lifestyles, as she grew up in rural areas.^[1]

The single was released in the United States in July 1995 and reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Merchant's highest-charting solo single in the US. It is also her most successful hit in Australia, peaking at number 24 on the ARIA Singles Chart, and reached number 17 in Canada. The single received a radio edit cutting the song down from the six-minute LP version. The video for the song, directed by Melodie McDaniel,^{[citation needed]} shows scenes of Merchant walking the streets of New York City taking street photographs with a Leica M3.

US CD single^[2]

1. "Carnival" – 5:59
2. "I May Know the Word" – 8:01

US cassette single^[3]

A. "Carnival" (album version) – 5:59

B. "I May Know the Word" (album version) – 8:07

European and Australian CD single^[4]

1. "Carnival" (edit) – 4:02
2. "Carnival" (LP version) – 5:59
3. "I May Know the Word" – 8:07

Credits are lifted from the US CD single liner notes.^[2]

Studios

• Recorded at Bearsville Studios (Bearsville, New York)
• Additional recording at The Club House (Germantown, New York)
• Mixed at Sony Studios (New York City)
• Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US)

Personnel