Here is my instrumental version of "Send In The Clowns" which was written by Stephen Sondheim as part of the score to his 1973 musical "A Little Night Music". It is a ballad from the 2nd Act of the show, in which the character Desirée reflects on the ironies and disappointments of her life. The "clowns" in the lyrics and title does not specifically refer to circus clowns, as Sondheim himself stated in an interview - "I wanted to use theatrical imagery in the song, because she's an actress, but it's not supposed to be a circus. It's a theater reference meaning "if the show isn't going well, let's send in the clowns"; in other words, "let's do the jokes." I always want to know, when I'm writing a song, what the end is going to be, so "Send in the Clowns" didn't settle in until I got the notion, "Don't bother, they're here", which means that "We are the fools"
I played this using my Fender Stratocaster (Neck Pickup) with the Zoom G2.1Nu (EFTP Patch A9). Recording was done via USB to my home PC with Cubase.
The backing track was an instrumental version found on RU-vid performed by the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra - • Send in the Clowns Kar...
I also used tablature written by Ger Sanders
I hope you enjoy my version of this very moving piece
LYRICS:
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!
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
But where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns
Well, maybe next year
5 окт 2024
