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21 May 23 - 06:42 PM (#4172762) Subject: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: InOBU 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? |
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21 May 23 - 07:02 PM (#4172767) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: cnd 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? |
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21 May 23 - 09:38 PM (#4172777) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: InOBU Many thanks! It gives me an excuse to reach out to Cathal as well... I haven't seen him in years. |
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22 May 23 - 03:40 AM (#4172792) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: GUEST 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. |
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22 May 23 - 08:09 AM (#4172810) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: GUEST,Peter Laban He sings it in this video : The Clown |
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22 May 23 - 09:00 AM (#4172812) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: cnd 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. |
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22 May 23 - 09:35 AM (#4172815) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: InOBU Peter, THANKS!!! cnd - I'll have a listen and see... Best Lorcan |
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22 May 23 - 10:28 AM (#4172816) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: InOBU 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 |
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22 May 23 - 12:44 PM (#4172817) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: InOBU 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 |
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22 May 23 - 01:56 PM (#4172828) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: InOBU 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 |
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22 May 23 - 02:10 PM (#4172830) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: Stilly River Sage The folk process, illustrated. ;-) |
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22 May 23 - 02:20 PM (#4172832) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: InOBU Three times for the prize, eh? |
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22 May 23 - 04:01 PM (#4172839) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Death of the clown Cathal McConnel's bro From: cnd 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?) |
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23 May 23 - 11:41 AM (#4172907) Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell) From: InOBU 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! |
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23 May 23 - 12:23 PM (#4172911) Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell) From: GUEST,Thebarleymow I think Bedford Land might be Bedford Van ie the motorhome he lived in! |
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23 May 23 - 12:27 PM (#4172912) Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell) From: GUEST,Peter Laban I clearly hear, and it makes sense, Bedford Van. |
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23 May 23 - 12:31 PM (#4172913) Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell) From: GUEST,Peter Laban The barleycorn beat me to it, ah well.. |
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23 May 23 - 12:52 PM (#4172915) Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell) From: cnd I agree, van is right. Being stateside, I've never heard of the brand -- good work team! |
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23 May 23 - 01:20 PM (#4172917) Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell) From: GUEST,Peter Laban Given the time the story occurred a Bedford Dormobile or something like it would have been common enough. |
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23 May 23 - 01:43 PM (#4172918) Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell) From: InOBU 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 |
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23 May 23 - 01:43 PM (#4172919) Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell) From: InOBU PS Isn't this the cat at its best? |
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23 May 23 - 01:52 PM (#4172921) Subject: RE: ADD: The Clown (Micky McConnell) From: InOBU 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 |