Send In The Clowns Lyrics

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 1:49am

Everyone says that the song is about different subjects, what is this song about to you?

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 1:50am

Desiree

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 1:57am

'But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here'

'And where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns.
Well, maybe next year'

I don't get that she says the clowns are here and then she says "maybe next year", those lyrics seem a little confusing to me. It might be a language issue though.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 2:03am

It's because between those two verses Frederik (effectively the other clown) leaves her.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 2:04am

I think you are being too literal. I am sure you know the song isn't actually about clowns.

Watch this if you haven't seen it before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWC5qfVnsVs

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 2:06am

I think it's about that crazy clown who shoes people offstage at the Apollo.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 2:15am

Thanks Chewy and ljay, It makes more sense now.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 2:21am

The whole 'clown' thing is because their relationship - and everyone else's in the show - has become as ridiculous as a circus.

I think that is the simplest way to describe the song.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 2:35am

That makes sense. The 1st time I saw this show(with a friend from San Francisco in the same city), he said that it was like she was going through rough times and she said "send in the clowns" like let's bring the entertainment to avoid being sad, but I think your definition makes more sense.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 8:50am

I always thought the song was a reference to Pagliacci, a role Desiree has always wanted to play .

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 9:00am

she does have a lonely heart, like Pagliacci. And lots of wavy hair like Liberace.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 9:35am

I think it is as simple as "be careful what you wish". She REALLY, REALLY wants the clowns, but when she actually SEES the clowns she changes her mind and tells the clowns, basically, "Um, that's okay, maybe next year, huh? Bye bye"

[dshnookie]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 10:38am

Thanks for posting the video, ljay.

I had NO idea the line "dont bother they're here" implied that "dont bother, because we [the characters] are the fools"

...slow on the uptake

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 10:43am

It's a great song and I think open to interpretation in many ways, like most artistic masterpieces. I've thought of the song in many different ways based on the delivery.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 11:58am

I've thought of the song in many ways based on what was happening in my life.

[Madcap Maisie]

Posted: 4/3/10 at 5:27pm

Its one of those wonderful songs that, when taken out of context, can mean a variety of things to the listener depending on their circumstance. It is a very beautiful song, and has brought me to tears many times.

I absolutely love Kimilee Bryant's version off of her My Favorite Things CD.

[canmark]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 12:22am

German figure skating pair Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy skate to Send in the Clowns... dressed as clowns. It's a lovely performance, but someone needs to tell them the song is not about clowns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K2Eo1BND9A

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 12:26am

I never thought of Desiree referring to Fredrik and herself as the clowns. I always took the song as a sort of surrender and resignation. After Fredrik leaves her, she has nothing else to really care about, and the whole affair has become completely ridiculous and almost comical to her. Hence the line, "There ought to be clowns."

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 12:28am

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/4/10 at 12:53am

*spoiler*

I enjoyed this current Bway production, but I wish he had left her in the end, for some reason.