Send In The Clowns
Deborah Myers Lyrics
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Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground,
you in mid-air.
Where are the clowns?
Isn't it bliss?
Don't you approve? One who keeps tearing around,
one who can't move.
Where are the clowns?
There ought to be 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.
And where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.
Isn't it rich?
Isn't it queer?
Losing my timing this late
in my career? And where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns.
Well, maybe next year
The song "Send in the Clowns" by Deborah Myers is a melancholic ballad that explores the complexities of love and relationships. The lyrics are somewhat cryptic, but the overall theme of the song is the regret that comes with missed opportunities and the realization that things didn't quite turn out as planned.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for the entire piece. The first two lines, "Isn't it rich? Are we a pair?" suggest a sense of irony and a slight bitterness. The idea being that something seems off, despite the appearance of everything being okay at first glance. The "me here at last on the ground, you in mid-air" line evokes the image of a circus clown, who is often elevated above the other performers. This imagery creates a sense of distance and disconnect, which is further explored throughout the song.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "where are the clowns," a line that gains more poignancy with each repetition. The singer seems to be searching for something that will bring meaning to the situation, a way to make sense of it all. The final line of the chorus, "there ought to be clowns," suggests a sense of disappointment with the way things have turned out, and a feeling that something important has been missed.
Overall, the song is a powerful exploration of regret and disappointment. The use of the clown imagery throughout the song is particularly effective, as it ties in with the idea of putting on a mask, or a performance, in order to cover up one's true feelings. Ultimately, the song suggests that sometimes in life, we miss our chance to be happy, and the only thing left to do is to laugh, even if it's through tears.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't it rich?
Isn't it ironic that we have so much but still feel unhappy?
Are we a pair?
Aren't we two people who are completely different from each other and have nothing in common?
Me here at last on the ground,
you in mid-air.
I have finally come down to the real world, while you are still living in your own fantasy.
Where are the clowns?
Why aren't there any funny people around to make things better?
Isn't it bliss?
Isn't it wonderful to be alive and experience everything?
Don't you approve?
Don't you think this is perfect and amazing?
One who keeps tearing around,
one who can't move.
One person who is always busy but has no direction in their life, and one person who is static and unchanging.
There ought to be clowns.
I wish there were people who could help us see the humor in our lives and make everything better.
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.
When I finally found the right person and thought I had everything figured out, it turns out that you were not there for me anymore.
Don't you love farce?
Don't you think it's funny how things turn out in life?
My fault, I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want
sorry, my dear.
It's my fault for thinking that you would want the same things as me. I'm sorry for assuming.
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.
We need someone to make us laugh and see the brighter side of things, but we don't have to look too far because we are the clowns ourselves.
Isn't it queer?
Isn't it strange how things have turned out?
Losing my timing this late
in my career?
Is it too late for me to make a positive change in my life?
Well, maybe next year
Things might not be going well for us right now, but hopefully, in the future, we will have more reasons to smile and enjoy life.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind