stephen sondheim
This song is from the 1973 musical "A Little Night Music", Act 2 - a musical based on Ingmar Bergman's 1955 film "Smiles of a Summer Night". Approaching this song, there are a few things you ought to know.
First of all: the term "clown" has absolutely nothing to do with circus clowns. Sondheim used it as a synonym for "fool", as he felt it lyrically better. Of course he was right.
Then; the song is meant for an actress, not a singer. The character "Desirée" was played by Glynis Johns (1923–2024), who had a bright, crystal voice but no technical skill. She couldn't sustain a note, so Sondheim tailored it for her, using short lines, mainly ended with consonants, and gave it a narrow vocal range.
The second act belongs to the character "Fredrik", but director Hal Prince proposed a song for Desirée, too : full of regret and anger to herself. Sondheim finished it in less than two days.
And finally: the song seems to be incomplete. Right. Remember, this is an ACT. Later it ends up in a coda, explaining it all and tying up loose ends. This coda requires a duet ...
... and thus, this song should never have been performed standalone.
But the world wanted it different. After the first release with Glynis Johns herself in April 1973, Frank Sinatra captured it for his album "Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back" September same year, humiliating Johns with his brilliant technique and breaking all rules being a male, focusing on the composition's quality solely and totally ignoring the context. He even, in later and simpler performances, pissed off Sondheim by implanting the Circus Theme Song "Entrance of the Gladiators" in the sparse accompaniment.
The Sinatra Version became almost both default and benchmark for the following now passed 550 covers, and in 1975 Judy Collins recorded it for her album "Judith", becoming a global hit and one of her best selling singles.
In 1985, Stephen Sondheim accepted the fate, gave in and wrote an additional bridge for Barbara Streisand's album "The Broadway Album". It's included here, in blue.
The melody also invited to instrumental interpreting, and it has become a jazz standard. Together with all the orchestral and solo instrument versions, the composition have far excessed 1000 recordings.
The song is carried by a ridiculous meter. It sounds like a floating waltz, but technically it swaps between 12/8 and 9/8 (!). So count the bars well: if not, Stephen Sondheim will come back down to haunt you.
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'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?
quick send in the clowns
don't bother they're here
What a surprise
Who could foresee?
I've come to feel about you what you felt about me
Why only now when I see that you've drifted away
What a surprise : what a cliché
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...
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
A7sus4 D isn't it rich A7sus4 D are we a pair A7 D D6 me here at last on the ground D7 G you in mid-air Em7 D send in the clowns A7sus4 D isn't it bliss A7sus4 D don't you approve A7 D D6 one who keeps tearing around D7 G one who can't move Em7 F#m where are the clowns Em7 A7 D send in the clowns F#7 F#m just when I'd stopped Bm F#m opening doors F#7 F#m F#m+2 F#m Bm finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours F#m E7 making my entrance again F#m with my usual flair Cmaj7 F#m sure of my lines Em7 A7 no one is there A7sus4 D don't you love farce A7sus4 D my fault I fear A7 D D6 I thought that you'd want what I want D7 G sorry my dear Em7 F#m but where are the clowns Em7 A7 quick send in the clowns A7sus4 A7 D don't bother they're here A7sus4 D isn't it rich A7sus4 D isn't it queer A7 D D6 losing my timing this late D7 G in my career Em7 F#m but where are the clowns Em7 A7 there ought to be clowns Em Em7 A7 D well maybe next year
