Public Addendum to a Private Entry

[coppqueen5129]

I heard a beautiful ditty on the radio this evening. Apparently, the song's been covered by a lot of folks, and I don't know who performed the version I heard. It was a man with a not-so-great but endearing high voice. It was just guitar and piano, I think. I wish that I had a beautiful voice so that I could sing it.

Started a Joke

I started a joke, which started the whole world crying,
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'd said.


Til I finally died, which started the whole world living,
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'd said.


'Til I finally died, which started the whole world living,
oh, if I'd only seen that the joke was on me.

Comments

[fjarlq.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's one of my favorite songs by the Bee Gees... funny, I was just singing it to myself the other day. It's one of those songs that keeps coming back to me at different times in my life... maybe because I don't understand it. What do you suppose it means?

Here's my mp3 of it (http://ljbox.com/fjarlq/music/Bee_Gees-I_Started_a_Joke.mp3), in case you want to have another listen. :)

[copperqueen.livejournal.com]

Thanks; that mp3 is of the version I heard last night.

I don't know what the definitive answer is, but to me it seems to describe the sensation of feeling contrary to the world, struggling to throw yourself into the mix of things and only gumming up them further. "Till I finally died, which started the whole world living," seems to be saying that without the pride and ego, the gears get moving again because we're no longer in the way.

It has a voyeuristic feel to it ... like standing outside the fence of a carnival and watching all the wheels spin, lights blink and people whirl by with all their little dramas.

But ... it's probably really about a broken toaster or something.

[aphonik.livejournal.com]

i remember that song mainly as the closing credits anthem in the landmark film "penn and teller get killed" -- which i thought at the time was quite amusing but i haven't seen in many, many years. but yes, as the previous gentlemen suggested, it is a bee gee's song. not sure about the covers, though.

[copperqueen.livejournal.com]

Fitting. It's a sad song, but also a bit maudlin. Like "Tears of a Clown" or something.

covers

[mehetabel.livejournal.com]

The indispensable All-Music Guide lists these (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70312111119003240&sql=H674160) covers:

Faith No More Who Cares a Lot: Greatest Hits [98]
Faith No More Who Cares a Lot: Greatest Videos [99]
Galway, James Greatest Hits [88]
Galway, James Pachelbel Canon & Other Favorites [81]
Havens, Richie Collection [87]
Havens, Richie Soul of the Bee Gees [96]
Havens, Richie Stonehenge [70]
Hindle, James James William Hindle [01]
Jamaica [2] Sisters in Pain [98]
Kelly, Pat Reggae Nights, Vol. 1 [98]
Kerr, Anita Anita Presents Teresa [69]
London Westend Sing Tribute to the Bee Gees: Pop Songs of the Brothers Gibb [97]
Low [1] Jabberjaw Compilation, Vol. 2: Pure Sweet Hell [96]
Lulu It's Lulu [70]
Lulu Most of Lulu/Lulu's Album [02]
McLean, Nana Collector's Series [96]
McLean, Nana Strictly the Best, Vol. 6
Porter, John Robert Crossroads [01]
Vanity Set Little Stabs at Happiness [03]
Wallflowers [1] Zoolander [01]
Wright, Shannon Perishable Goods [01]

format there is artist album [year]

Re: covers

[copperqueen.livejournal.com]

Wow - I'd like to check out the Faith No More version sometime.

I'm surprised that Barenaked Ladies hasn't covered it yet.