Raised in Syracuse, New York, she found success in the 70s as a model, working in New York and Paris (where she shared an apartment with Jerry Hall and Jessica Lange), before rising to public prominence as a singer and personality.
Jones secured a record deal with Island Records, which resulted in a string of club hits. The three disco albums she recorded - Portfolio (1977), Fame (1978), and Muse (1979) - generated dance singles such as Sorry That's The Trouble, I Need A Man, and a classic cover of La Vie En Rose. During this period, she also became a muse to Andy Warhol, appearing in his portraits and accompanying him to Studio 54 on many occasions.
As the 70s drew to a close, Jones adapted the emerging New Wave music to suit a different style, a significant departure from her previous output that resulted in some of her strongest work. Still with Island, and now working with producers Alex Sadkin and Chris Blackwell at Compass Point Studios, and with the considerable talents of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (Sly & Robbie) behind her, she released the acclaimed Warm Leatherette (1980) and Nightclubbing (1981). These included re-imaginings of songs by Sting, Iggy Pop, The Pretenders, Roxy Music, Flash And The Pan, The Normal, and Tom Petty, as well as originals like the innuendo-filled Pull Up To The Bumper and the haunting I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango). Parallel to her musical shift was an equally dramatic visual departure; Jones - working heavily with style artist Jean-Paul Goude - adopted a severe, androgynous look that enhanced her already striking presence, the iconic cover of Nightclubbing exemplifying this new identity. Her collaboration with Sadkin and Blackwell continued with the dub reggae-influenced album Living My Life, which featured Nipple To The Bottle, The Apple Stretching, and the Jones-penned and much-sampled My Jamaican Guy.
Later in the 80s, she worked with Trevor Horn for the conceptual musical collage Slave to the Rhythm (1985), and with Nile Rodgers for Inside Story (1986) - her first album away from the Island label. Inside Story produced her last US Hot 100 hit to date, I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You), while Bulletproof Heart in 1989 produced the #1 US club hit Love on Top of Love - Killer Kiss, produced by C+C Music Factory's David Cole and Robert Clivilles. Though a chart regular in the UK Grace Jones never achieved mainstream musical success in the US, but most of her singles became huge hits in the dance underground.
Jones' strong visual presence was extended to her stage work. Her performances were unique spectacles as she adopted various personas and wore outlandish costumes throughout, particularly during her years with Goude. Her most memorable performances include the Paradise Garage in 1985, wherein she collaborated with legendary visual artist Keith Haring for her costume and the extraordinary One Man Show filmed in Drury Lane Theatre London and in New York and released on video in 1982 (it is yet to be re-released).
In 2008 she returned with the album "Hurricane".
Send In The Clowns
Grace Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me here at last on the ground,
You in mid-air,
Send in the clowns, send in the clowns,
Isn't it bliss? don't you approve?
One who keeps tearing around,
One who can't move,
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 thar 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,
(?)
Send in the clowns. (x10),
Grace Jones's version of the classic song "Send In The Clowns" is a poignant, melancholy reflection on lost love, regret and the passing of time. The opening lines "Isn't it rich? Are we a pair?/Me here at last on the ground/You in mid-air" immediately set the scene of two estranged lovers who are no longer on the same page. This is further emphasised in the following lines "One who keeps tearing around/One who can't move/Where are the clowns?/Send in the clowns".
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is reflecting on a failed romance and the missed opportunities that have led them to this point. They lament that just as they thought they had finally found the person they wanted, they discovered that it was too late. Lines such as "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" perfectly capture the sense of disillusionment and disappointment that comes with unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't it rich? are we a pair?
Aren't we ironic and funny together?
Me here at last on the ground,
Finally found stability and peace.
You in mid-air,
You're still flying high without me.
Send in the clowns, send in the clowns,
Bring in the comic relief to ease the tension.
Isn't it bliss? don't you approve?
Aren't you happy for me? Or are you envious?
One who keeps tearing around,
You who's always on the move.
One who can't move,
Me who's finally found stillness.
Where are the clowns?
Where's the humor when you need it?
Send in the clowns,
Bring in the comic relief.
Just when i'd stopped opening doors,
After giving up on searching for love.
Finally knowing the one that i wanted,
Finally finding the person I want to be with.
Was yours,
Only to find out they belong to you.
Making my entrance again with my,
Returning to the situation with confidence.
Usual flair,
My signature style and charm.
Sure of my lines,
Knowing what to say and do.
No one is there,
But you're not there to appreciate it.
Don't you love farce?
You enjoy the deceptive situation we're in.
My fault i fear,
I blame myself for my naivety.
I thought that you'd want what i want,
I assumed you shared my desires.
Sorry my dear,
I regret having misjudged the situation.
And where are the clowns?
Where's the humor in this sad, ironic situation?
Quick send in the clowns,
Quickly bring in some comic relief to ease the tension.
Don't bother, they're here,
The clowns are already present – the situation itself is absurd.
Isn't it rich? isn't it queer?
Isn't it funny and ironic?
Losing my timing this late,
My sense of timing is off at this point in my life.
In my career,
In the culmination of my life's work and experience.
And where are the clowns?
Where's the humor when I need it most?
There ought to be clowns,
There should be some comedic relief at this point.
(?),
Unknown or inaudible line.
Send in the clowns. (x10)
Repeated call for comic relief.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guilherme_b
Isn't it rich?
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 keeps tearing around
One who can't move
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns
Just when I stopped
Opening doors
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
Sure of my lines
Noone is there
Don't you love a farce?
My fault, I fear
I thought that you'd want what I want
Sorry my dear
But where are the clowns?
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
Where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns
Well, maybe next year
@ethanhill9460
Man...I smile when I hear her voice.
@danielschmuki6831
My mother tongue is German and as a teenager I always understood "Sand in the clouds". Great song - like a desert storm!
@patrickryan1515
The entire album, "Portfolio" was back then and is still today a very enjoyable album. I sometimes put it on and get on my rebounder for a nice half hour jog in place taking my original experiences with Grace Jones from the nighttime disco atmosphere
into this now daytime workout. A flood of memories come back thinking of the 70s, and before I know it my jogging is completed. 8/2018
@prinspray
agree
@ericajarrett9126
I still have this album. Its a Master piece by My Jamaican girl Grace Jones. She is a true legend. Sending flowers your way Ms Jones.
@ernestogustavohurtadoferna6952
La primera vez que la escuché fue el 79 del siglo pasado y aún me gusta, gran arreglo disco, un tesoro de versión
@loganboggs9236
She makes the 70's fun.
@farmyardflavours
and the 80s !!
@NextToToddliness
Legendary.
@antd8259
Great performance/vocals. Soulful version. First time I heard her version. Just excellent. Very 70's ish