ADD: The Clown (Mickey McConnell)

Subject: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: InOBU
Date: 21 May 23 - 06:42 PM

All I can remember is, something like, "in a one ring circus in a one horse town, suffered the death of their (senior?) clown," Cathal sang it to me once. It was written by his brother who wrote Only Our Rivers Run Free, any know the words to the Clown song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: cnd
Date: 21 May 23 - 07:02 PM

Cathal's brother would be Mickey MacConnell. This song is from his album Peter Pan and Me (1992). The song you're after is called The Clown.

I can't give you any more info than that at the moment. Most of the album isn't available online, and copies are selling for a pretty penny. His website describes the song as follows: "The death of a clown is perhaps in many ways a musical cliche. Anyway, this is my take on the theme written from a Fermanagh point of view."

There's also a contact link on this page; maybe if you reached out he could help?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: InOBU
Date: 21 May 23 - 09:38 PM

Many thanks! It gives me an excuse to reach out to Cathal as well... I haven't seen him in years.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: GUEST
Date: 22 May 23 - 03:40 AM

Played with him in a session a week ago in Sandy Bell's in Edinburgh. Getting old like the rest of us, but still in fine musical form, and the same great character he always was. If this had been posted a week ago, I would have asked him about it. Ah well, unfortunate timing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 22 May 23 - 08:09 AM

He sings it in this video : The Clown

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: cnd
Date: 22 May 23 - 09:00 AM

Good find, Peter.

InOBU, if you feel comfortable transcribing it, feel free to share the words here. Otherwise I can try and take a stab at it later.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: InOBU
Date: 22 May 23 - 09:35 AM

Peter, THANKS!!! cnd - I'll have a listen and see... Best Lorcan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: InOBU
Date: 22 May 23 - 10:28 AM

Thanks Peter and cnd! I think I have all but three words or so...

The Clown
Micky McConnell
Back in the Summer of 73
Some after the matinee
A one-line circus in a one-horse town
Suffered the loss of its senior clown
And the upside-down lady on the low trapeze
Caught him gasping on his tweed patched knees (Not sure Tweed is right)
Swift sure hands tucked him into his bed
The smile was painted but the clown was dead
The smile was painted but the clown was dead


And we bade our farewells by the candy floss stand
To the greasepainted corpse in the bedroom grand (Not sure the Bedroom Grand is right)
On the tall high hill of the cluttered stones
We laid down his funny bones
Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
He’s gone to God in his working clothes

The strong man built him a box of pine
The 8 o’clock show ran at ten to nine
The juggler juggled with greatest of ease
And the bright smile flew on the low trapeze
We buried him deep in the dead of night
The tent came down in the morning light
And all that was left on the marrow morn
Was a sawdust circle and a square forlorn
a sawdust circle and a square forlorn

But I’ll always remember the heart-breaking sound
Of the grave diggers spade in the stoney ground
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
We laid down his funny bones
We laid down his funny bones

Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
They both went to God in their working clothes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: InOBU
Date: 22 May 23 - 12:44 PM

This may be closer, "bedroom Layin'"

The Clown
Micky McConnell

Back in the Summer of 73
Some after the matinee
A one-line circus in a one-horse town
Suffered the loss of its senior clown
And the upside-down lady on the low trapeze
Caught him gasping on his tweed patched knees (Not sure Tweed is right)
Swift sure hands tucked him into his bed
The smile was painted but the clown was dead
The smile was painted but the clown was dead


And we bade our farewells by the candy floss stand
To the greasepainted corpse in the bedroom layin’
On the tall high hill of the cluttered stones
We laid down his funny bones
Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
He’s gone to God in his working clothes

The strong man built him a box of pine
The 8 o’clock show ran at ten to nine
The juggler juggled with greatest of ease
And the bright smile flew on the low trapeze
We buried him deep in the dead of night
The tent came down in the morning light
And all that was left on the marrow morn
Was a sawdust circle and a square forlorn
a sawdust circle and a square forlorn

But I’ll always remember the heart-breaking sound
Of the grave diggers spade in the stoney ground
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
We laid down his funny bones
We laid down his funny bones

Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
They both went to God in their working clothes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: InOBU
Date: 22 May 23 - 01:56 PM

Third try... "weak patched knees"

The Clown
Micky McConnell

Back in the Summer of 73
Some after the matinee
A one-line circus in a one-horse town
Suffered the loss of its senior clown
And the upside-down lady on the low trapeze
Caught him gasping on his weak patched knees
Swift sure hands tucked him into his bed
The smile was painted but the clown was dead
The smile was painted but the clown was dead


And we bade our farewells by the candy floss stand
To the greasepainted corpse in the bedroom layin’
On the tall high hill of the cluttered stones
We laid down his funny bones
Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
He’s gone to God in his working clothes

The strong man built him a box of pine
The 8 o’clock show ran at ten to nine
The juggler juggled with greatest of ease
And the bright smile flew on the low trapeze
We buried him deep in the dead of night
The tent came down in the morning light
And all that was left on the marrow morn
Was a sawdust circle and a square forlorn
a sawdust circle and a square forlorn

But I’ll always remember the heart-breaking sound
Of the grave diggers spade in the stoney ground
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
We laid down his funny bones
We laid down his funny bones

Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
They both went to God in their working clothes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 May 23 - 02:10 PM

The folk process, illustrated. ;-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: InOBU
Date: 22 May 23 - 02:20 PM

Three times for the prize, eh?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro
From: cnd
Date: 22 May 23 - 04:01 PM

Pretty close, I'd say. Here's a few differences I heard:

Back in the Summer of 73
Some time after the matinee
A one-lion circus in a one-horse town
Suffered the loss of its senior clown
And the upside-down lady on the low trapeze
Caught him gasping on his weak patched knees
Swift sure hands tucked him into his bed
The smile was painted but the clown was dead
The smile was painted but the clown was dead

And we bade our farewells by the candy floss stand
To the grease-painted corpse in the Bedford land **
On the tall high hill of the cluttered stones
We laid down his funny bones
Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
He’s gone to God in his working clothes

The strong man built him a box of pine
The 8 o’clock show ran at ten to nine
The juggler juggled with greatest of ease
And the bright smile flew on the low trapeze
We buried him deep in the dead of night
The tent came down in the morning light
And all that was left on the morrow morn
Was a sawdust circle and a square forlorn
A sawdust circle and a square forlorn

But I’ll always remember the heart-breaking sound
Of the grave diggers spade in the stony ground
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
We laid down his funny bones
We laid down his funny bones

Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
They both went to God in their working clothes

** (not 100% sure about this, but I don't think bedroom is quite right. Maybe backward?)

Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell)
From: InOBU
Date: 23 May 23 - 11:41 AM

Lions, Of course, well done cnd! Bedford Land... that's the hard one, reminds me of a mate of mine from Derry, used to always talk about a theater project he did, Martin Monday. He's day, Aye, we did a wee bit about Martin Monday, ye know, the American TV show... and I'd say, never saw it, then one day he said, Martin Monday, about the wee spacemaun and the wee girl livn' t'tether... Oh aye, says I, Mork and Mindy!

Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell)
From: GUEST,Thebarleymow
Date: 23 May 23 - 12:23 PM

I think Bedford Land might be Bedford Van ie the motorhome he lived in!

Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 23 May 23 - 12:27 PM

I clearly hear, and it makes sense, Bedford Van.

Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 23 May 23 - 12:31 PM

The barleycorn beat me to it, ah well..

Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell)
From: cnd
Date: 23 May 23 - 12:52 PM

I agree, van is right. Being stateside, I've never heard of the brand -- good work team!

Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell)
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 23 May 23 - 01:20 PM

Given the time the story occurred a Bedford Dormobile or something like it would have been common enough.

Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell)
From: InOBU
Date: 23 May 23 - 01:43 PM

Thebarleymow Brilliant! Of Course, being an American Romani, I might have know, especially with an Irish father, I should have known. I'd say we're just almost or even there... well done all!!!



Back in the Summer of 73
Some time after the matinee
A one-lion circus in a one-horse town
Suffered the loss of its senior clown
And the upside-down lady on the low trapeze
Caught him gasping on his weak patched knees
Swift sure hands tucked him into his bed
The smile was painted but the clown was dead
The smile was painted but the clown was dead

And we bade our farewells by the candy floss stand
To the grease-painted corpse in the Bedford Van
On the tall high hill of the cluttered stones
We laid down his funny bones
Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
He’s gone to God in his working clothes

The strong man built him a box of pine
The 8 o’clock show ran at ten to nine
The juggler juggled with greatest of ease
And the bright smile flew on the low trapeze
We buried him deep in the dead of night
The tent came down in the morning light
And all that was left on the morrow morn
Was a sawdust circle and a square forlorn
A sawdust circle and a square forlorn

But I’ll always remember the heart-breaking sound
Of the grave diggers spade in the stony ground
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
We laid down his funny bones
We laid down his funny bones

Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
They both went to God in their working clothes

Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell)
From: InOBU
Date: 23 May 23 - 01:43 PM

PS Isn't this the cat at its best?

Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell)
From: InOBU
Date: 23 May 23 - 01:52 PM

Right, checked against the video, just forgot one repeat... THIS SEEMS TO BE IT!!!

Back in the Summer of 73
Some time after the matinee
A one-lion circus in a one-horse town
Suffered the loss of its senior clown
And the upside-down lady on the low trapeze
Caught him gasping on his weak patched knees
Swift sure hands tucked him into his bed
The smile was painted but the clown was dead
The smile was painted but the clown was dead

And we bade our farewells by the candy floss stand
To the grease-painted corpse in the Bedford Van
On the tall high hill of the cluttered stones
We laid down his funny bones
We laid down his funny bones.

Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
He’s gone to God in his working clothes

The strong man built him a box of pine
The 8 o’clock show ran at ten to nine
The juggler juggled with greatest of ease
And the bright smile flew on the low trapeze
We buried him deep in the dead of night
The tent came down in the morning light
And all that was left on the morrow morn
Was a sawdust circle and a square forlorn
A sawdust circle and a square forlorn

But I’ll always remember the heart-breaking sound
Of the grave diggers spade in the stony ground
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
We laid down his funny bones
We laid down his funny bones

Eternity’s just a one-night stand
Sawdust to sawdust, sand to sand
Flip flop shoes and a cherry nose
He’s gone to God in his working clothes
Beside the tomb of Monsignor Jones
They both went to God in their working clothes