Songfacts®:

• Bono addresses the ego of performers, on this Rubber Soul-era Beatles tune. It is a lighthearted poke at singers and how we shouldn't take what they say too seriously. The U2 frontman explained to Rolling Stone:
  
  "There's a song called 'The Showman' which is a letter to our audience, it's kind of about performers and how you shouldn't trust them too much. It's about me, haha. There's a funny line, well, I think it's funny anyway, 'I lie for a living, I love to let on but you make it true when you sing along?'"
• Bono told The Sun he is addressing U2's legions of loyal fans. He explained the track is, "a love letter to anyone who falls for the bluster of a performer with too much/too little confidence. We give birth to these songs but it's our audience who give life and meaning to them."