Send in the clownsJudy Collins
Isn't it rich, aren't we a pair
Me here at last on the ground - you in mid-air
Where are the clowns
Isn't it bliss1, 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 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 a farce2, 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 timing3 this late in my career
But where are the clowns, there ought to be clowns
Well maybe next year
小丑进场茱蒂柯琳丝
有趣吧?大家不正好是一对?
我终于回到地面,而你却悬在半空中
小丑们在什么地方?
真是天生一对啊!你赞同吗?
一个在场内兜圈子,一个却动弹不能
小丑们在什么地方?应该有小丑的
当我停下来,打开每一扇门
终于了解我所要的正是你那一扇门
以我惯有些敏锐再度亮相
牢记台词........却没一个观众!
你不喜欢闹剧吗?恐怕是我错了
我以为你要的正是我想的,抱歉,亲爱的!
但小丑在什么地方?让小丑进场吧!
别烦恼,他们在场子里了
有趣吧!有点古怪?
在我的表演生涯里乱了阵脚
但小丑在什么地方?应该有小丑的
或许........等明年吧!
茱蒂柯琳丝在 60 年代以民谣歌手的姿态进入歌坛,嗓音珠圆玉润,解释曲目风格多元,又能写歌,飞速打造起个人音乐版图,到今天仍有新作问世。1975年,她推出 Judith 专辑,里面翻唱多首知名作品,收罗曲目从百老汇舞台剧到滚石合唱团,其中 Send in the clowns ,原本是知名作曲家 Stephen Sondheim 1973 年的剧作「A little night music」当中的曲子,被茱蒂柯琳丝慧眼相中重新解释后大受青睐,隔年更取得葛莱美奖年度最好歌曲。
A little night music(今晚来点音乐)的剧情是说:一个在舞台上颠倒众生的红伶,眼看昔日被她玩弄于股掌间的男性,个个均安身成家,好面子的她不信自己魔力已失,遂邀请众伉俪到她的乡间别墅度假,企图挽回昔日恋爱。但,当最后一位男性也拒绝了她,她终于得面对自己风华不再的残酷事实,而落寞的唱出这首歌。
Stephen Sondheim 在百老汇是少数词曲兼修的音乐创作者,著名指挥家兼作曲家伯恩斯坦的「西城故事」就是Stephen Sondheim 负责作词,他后来在百老汇作品不断,也参与制作电影配乐,如 90 年代初玛丹娜主演的漫画电影「狄克崔西」。