Her influences are varied, including Nina Simone, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Simon and Garfunkel, and Velvet Underground. She has sung with Badmarsh & Shri album and worked with Twisted Nerve artist Pedro.
Her album, Leave to Remain, was greeted with critical acclaim, and her earlier Little Black Numbers was nominated for a Grammy award.
In 2010 Williams collaborated with former Delicate Vomit member Anna Spencer as The Crayonettes on the album Playing Out - Songs for Children and Robots
In 2012 she launched a new project called 'The Pond.'
A trio with Simon Edwards and Ginny Clee, the project mixed by Portishead’s Adrian Utley.
I Started a Joke
Kathryn Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I didn't see that the joke was on me, oh no
I started to cry which started the whole world laughing
Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me
I looked at the skies running my hands over my eyes
And I fell out of bed hurting my head from things that I said
Till I finally died which started the whole world living
I looked at the skies running my hands over my eyes
And I fell out of bed hurting my head from things that I said
Till I finally died which started the whole world living
Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me, oh no
Till I finally died
which started the whole world living – these lines are from the chorus of the song “I Started a Joke” by Kathryn Williams. The song is about a person who made a joke that had unintended consequences. The joke led to the whole world crying, but the person didn't realize that the joke was on them. The person then cried, which caused the whole world to laugh. The song is a reflection on the power of humor, the complexity of human emotions and the importance of self-awareness.
The first verse of the song talks about how the person started a joke which caused the whole world to cry. The second line, "But I didn't see that the joke was on me, oh no" reveals that the person didn’t realize the impact of the joke and that it was directed at them. The third line, "I started to cry which started the whole world laughing" shows how the person’s own emotional reaction was turned into a joke by others. It is a poignant reminder that the things we say and do can have significant consequences, and that we should be mindful of how our actions and words affect others.
The second verse describes how the person’s ignorance and lack of awareness caused them to suffer. The pain they experience is symbolic of the wider repercussions of their actions. The final line, “Oh, if I'd only seen that the joke was on me” is a plea to be more self-aware and responsible in the future. The song highlights the importance of empathy, compassion and the ability to reflect on ourselves and our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
I started a joke which started the whole world crying
I told a joke that caused everyone around me to cry, but I didn't realize that the joke was really on me
But I didn't see that the joke was on me, oh no
I was unaware that I was the one being laughed at
I started to cry which started the whole world laughing
My reaction to the situation caused everyone to laugh
Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me
If only I had realized the truth about the situation
I looked at the skies running my hands over my eyes
I was overwhelmed and confused about what was happening
And I fell out of bed hurting my head from things that I said
My careless words caused me pain
Till I finally died which started the whole world living
It took my death for others to truly see the value of life
Oh If I'd only seen that the joke was on me
Once again, I reflect on how things could have been different if I had only realized what was really happening
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Barry Gibb, Maurice Ernest Gibb, Robin Hugh Gibb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marjohn Tayao
the moment i heard it in weightlifting fairy, a korean drama im watching right now as its background music in one of its scene takes place on a coffeeshop i searched for it just now because it is the best cover of this song i ever heard. i love kathryn, thanks for singing this song... im already one of your fans :)
SoloCao
Same here a few months ago I finished the whole episodes. From beginning to ending 2×'s that is. Great film it was.
Edit: I'm nowhere near to understanding the whole Korean language, so I watched it with subtitles, and I learned a few words.
john lorenzo Valencia
Im here coz were always same. Isn't hard to find? Haha
3cliffsbay
Beautiful version of this timeless classic. RIP Robin.
Appleholic1
Kathryn. You started to sing which started my whole world smiling.
Mick Robinson
So disagree with who said her voice doesn't fit..like a hand in glove it fits perfectly
BREE BRYANT
Yes, it's lovely. Some people are just used to hearing a particular arrangement, and can't imagine a slightly different tempo...
Zummoarri Hattori
I got carried away of her version, I closed my eyes while listening to the song and it felt like I was in already in a coffin. x_x
Michael Kennedy
That joke is on all of us.
sbandoboy
Lovely cover of a very enigmatic song.