A Little Night Music: Finale: Send in the Clowns
Glynis Johns Lyrics


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Isn't it rich?
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

Overall Meaning

The song "Send In the Clowns" by Glynis Johns is a poignant ballad which explores the themes of regret and loss. The lyrics describe a person who is reflecting on a past relationship and realizes that they had missed out on the opportunity for love. They describe themselves as being on the ground while the other person is in mid-air, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for an emotional distance between them. The lyrics ask the question, "Where are the clowns?" which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the sadness and loneliness that the person is feeling. They then express a desire for there to be clowns to entertain them and lift their spirits.


The second verse describes the person's frustration with their own situation. They describe themselves as "one who keeps tearing around" while the other person "can't move," which suggests a lack of stability and a sense of being lost. They then express their desire for there to be clowns, calling for them to arrive and provide some comic relief. The next section of the song is about the person's regret for not realizing what they had until it was too late. They describe themselves as having finally found the one they wanted, only to lose them again because of their own misunderstandings. The line "Making my entrance again, with my usual flair, Sure of my lines, no one is there," suggests a sense of disillusionment and disappointment.


The final verse of the song expresses the person's resignation to their situation. They describe themselves as losing their timing in their career, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for their life. They express their disappointment that there are no clowns to provide them with the levity they need, and end on a quiet note of sadness. Overall, the song is a powerful reflection on the nature of regret and the passage of time.


Line by Line Meaning

Isn't it rich?
Isn't this amazing?


Are we a pair?
Are we in this together?


Me here at last on the ground, you in mid-air.
I feel grounded and settled, while you seem distant and unattainable.


Where are the clowns?
Where is the comic relief in this situation?


Isn't it bliss?
Isn't this wonderful?


Don't you approve?
Don't you agree with me?


One who keeps tearing around, one who can't move.
One of us is always busy while the other can't seem to get moving.


Where are the clowns? There ought to be clowns.
This situation deserves some comedic relief.


Just when I'd stopped opening doors, finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours,
I had given up on finding what I was looking for when I unexpectedly found it in you.


Making my entrance again, with my usual flair, Sure of my lines, no one is there.
I tried to make an impression, but no one was around to witness it.


Don't you love farce?
Don't you enjoy a good joke?


My fault, I fear. I thought that you'd want what I want sorry, my dear.
I assumed we were on the same page, but it seems I was wrong.


And where are the clowns? Quick, send in the clowns. Don't bother, they're here.
This situation is so ridiculous, we don't need any clowns; we already have ourselves.


Isn't it rich? Isn't it queer? Losing my timing this late in my career?
Isn't it strange? I'm at the end of my career and things are not going as planned.


And where are the clowns? There ought to be clowns. Well, maybe next year
Hopefully, things will get better and we can laugh about this someday.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN SONDHEIM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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