Actually, the circus clown version is NOT in the original 1934 song.
It’s a 1950’s rewrite which tones it down for younger children.
From Wiki:
The bridge of the song contains the following lyrics:
“In the meadow we can build a snowman,
then pretend that he is Parson Brown.
He’ll say ‘Are You Married?’ We’ll say ‘No man,
but you can do the job while you’re in town!’”
In the period when this song was written, parsons (now known as Protestant ministers) often traveled among small rural towns to perform wedding ceremonies for denominational followers who did not have a local minister of their own faith.
The original bridge, about a couple who make a spur-of-the-moment decision to get married, was supposedly considered inappropriate for children. A 1953 version of the sheet music contains the following replacement bridge
In the meadow we can build a snowman,
and pretend that he’s a circus clown.
We’ll have lots of fun with Mister Snowman,
until the other kiddies knock ‘im down!
When it snows, ain’t it thrillin’?
Tho’ your nose, gets a chillin’
We’ll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,
Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland.
Don’t believe what you read on Wiki, because it usually isn’t true. That Wiki story is a total fabrication. The song has been unchanged since it was first written.
Interesting. Unless the lyricist wrote that, according to copyright laws, it’s illegal to do that on a recording.