Life Is a Carnival

{{Infobox song

| name = Life is a Carnival

| cover = Life Is a Carnival cover.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Dutch cover

| type = single

| artist = the Band

| album = Cahoots

| B-side = The Moon Struck One

| released = 1971

| recorded = Early 1971

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Roots rock, Americana

| length = 3:50

| label = Capitol Records

| writer = Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko

| producer = The Band

| prev_title =

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}}

"Life is a Carnival" is the opening track of the Band's fourth album, Cahoots. Written by Rick Danko, Levon Helm, and Robbie Robertson, the song features horn arrangements by New Orleans musician Allen Toussaint. The song is the only track from the Cahoots album included on the original releases of Rock of Ages and The Last Waltz. The song was featured in the Bill Murray movie Larger Than Life.

Billboard called it a "funky beat swinger with a potent lyric line."{{cite magazine|title=Spotlight Singles|date=September 25, 1971|page=46|accessdate=2023-04-12|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1971/Billboard%201971-09-25.pdf|magazine=Billboard}} Cash Box said that the "lyrics are of utmost importance."{{cite magazine|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=September 25, 1971|page=20|accessdate=2023-04-12|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-09-25.pdf|magazine=Cash Box}} Record World said "With the funkiest introduction, premier underground act will greatly add to their legion of fans."{{cite magazine|title=Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=September 25, 1971|page=1|accessdate=2023-04-12|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-09-25.pdf}}

Musical notation for this song is printed on a wall behind Levon Helm's grave in Woodstock, New York.