Barbra Streisand has recorded more than 60 albums, almost all with Columbia Records. Her early works in the 1960s (her debut The Barbra Streisand Album which won two Grammy Awards in 1963, followed by The Second Barbra Streisand Album, The Third Album, My Name Is Barbra, etc.) are considered classic renditions of theater and nightclub standards, including her version of Happy Days Are Here Again. Beginning with My Name Is Barbra, her albums were often medley-filled keepsakes of her television specials.
Starting in 1969, Streisand tackled contemporary songwriters; like many talented singers of the day, she found herself a fish out of water in attempts to tackle rock, but her vocal talents prevailed and she gained newfound success with the pop and ballad-oriented Richard Perry-produced album Stoney End in 1971. The title track, written by Laura Nyro, was a big hit for Streisand.
Streisand's 1980 album, Guilty featured the songwriting, production and vocal talents of Barry Gibb and was the best-selling album of her recording career. During the 1970s, she was also highly prominent in the pop charts, with number-one records like The Way We Were, Evergreen, No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (her duet with Donna Summer), and Woman In Love; some of these came from soundtracks of her films. She recently took part in supporting Haiti in singing "We are the World 25th anniversary.
When the 1970s ended, Streisand was named the most successful female singer in the U.S. - only Elvis Presley and The Beatles having sold more albums. [1]
[1] In 1982, New York Times music critic Stephen Holden wrote that Streisand was "the most influential mainstream American pop singer since Frank Sinatra."
Send in the Clowns
Barbra Streisand Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are we a pair?
Me here, at last, on the ground
You in mid-air
Send in the clowns
Isn't it bliss?
Don't you approve?
One who can't move
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns
Just when I'd stopped opening doors
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
Sure of my lines
No one is there
Don't you love farce?
My fault, I fear
I thought that you'd want what I want
Sorry, my dear
But where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns
Quick, send in the clowns
What a surprise!
Who could foresee?
I'd come to feel about you
What you felt about me
Why only now, when I see
That you've drifted away?
What a surprise
What a cliche
Isn't it rich?
Isn't it queer?
Losing my timing this late in my career
And where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns
Don't bother
They're here
Barbra Streisand’s "Send in the Clowns" is a mournful, melancholic song about lost romance, regret, and the harsh realities of love. The song's lyrics are filled with pain and bitterness as the singer recalls a past love in rapturous detail, only to find out that they have been left alone. The line "Isn't it rich?" serves as the opening statement to the song, immediately making the listener aware of the lyricist's irritation and sense of betrayal.
The opening stanza makes use of dramatic irony, as the singer contrasts her position "on the ground," with her former lover's "mid-air" status. "Send in the Clowns" can be seen as a metaphor for the singer's life where she is pleading and hoping for any kind of relief from her heartbreak. The expression "send in the clowns" takes on a dark twist, as it is used to refer to the absurdity of the situation, hinting that the whole thing might be a cruel joke and that no help or resolution is readily in sight.
The second stanza starts with the words “Isn’t it bliss?” which further emphasizes the absurdity of the situation, as the use of the word “bliss” is ironic when considering the context. The song's speakers shift to a reflection of the relationship that never quite clicked. The last stanza talks about how she still loves him, but knows it’s beyond the point of reconciliation, “losing my timing this late in my career” indicating that she knows it’s too late to reconcile things with the person she once loved.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't it rich?
Isn't this situation ironic?
Are we a pair?
Are we in this together?
Me here, at last, on the ground
I'm finally grounded and matured.
You in mid-air
You're still flying high.
Send in the clowns
Bring in the jesters to lighten the mood.
Isn't it bliss?
Isn't this situation heavenly?
Don't you approve?
Don't you agree with me?
One who keeps tearing around
Someone who's always on the move.
One who can't move
Someone who can't take action.
Where are the clowns?
Where are the jesters when you need them?
Send in the clowns
Bring in the jesters to lighten the mood.
Just when I'd stopped opening doors
Just when I thought I had found what I needed.
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours
I realized that the one I wanted was already taken.
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
I returned with my usual confidence.
Sure of my lines
I knew exactly what to say and do.
No one is there
But nobody was around to hear or see it.
Don't you love farce?
Don't you love how life can be ironic?
My fault, I fear
I blame myself.
I thought that you'd want what I want
I thought we shared the same desires.
Sorry, my dear
I apologize.
But where are the clowns?
But where are the jesters to make light of the situation?
There ought to be clowns
There should always be someone to make us laugh.
Quick, send in the clowns
Hurry, bring in the jesters before it's too late.
What a surprise!
What a shocking revelation!
Who could foresee?
Who could have predicted?
I'd come to feel about you
I had begun to have feelings for you.
What you felt about me
But you didn't feel the same.
Why only now, when I see
Why did I only realize this now?
That you've drifted away?
That you've moved on from me?
What a surprise
What a cliche
Isn't it rich?
Isn't this situation ironic?
Isn't it queer?
Isn't this situation strange?
Losing my timing this late in my career
I can't believe I'm losing my touch after all these years.
And where are the clowns?
And where are the jesters when I need them?
Quick, send in the clowns
Bring in the jesters to lift my spirits.
Don't bother
Never mind.
They're here
The jesters have arrived.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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on Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)
I love Melinda Vesterfelt