The song I Started a Joke from the album Idea, the third in the studio discography of the Bee Gees, is one of the many masterpieces of the British group.
It was released as a single and topped the charts in several countries. It has been performed by many famous musicians, and famous directors have included it in movie soundtracks.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song I Started a Joke
Compositionist Robin Gibb tells the story of the Bee Gees composition:
Melody of this [песни] was heard aboard British Airways’ Vickers Viscount about a hundred miles from Essen. It was one of those old four-engine turboprops that seemed to put the passenger into a hypnotic trance with their hum, only in this case it was different. After a while, the hum seemed to take the form of a melody that in a mysterious way resembled a church choir. And everything was decided!
We pestered the pilot, forced him to land in the nearest village, and there, in a small pub, we finished the lyrics. Actually, it wasn’t a village, it was a city, and it wasn’t a pub, it was an inn, and we didn’t force the pilot to land in the field… but why ruin a perfect story?
Bee Gees Anthology, Leonard Hal
Many fans tried to explain the idea behind the composition. Barry commented on this as follows:
There were a lot of things like that in those days. There was a lot of psychedelia, and there was also the idea that if you wrote something, even if it seems ridiculous, someone will figure out the meaning, and it will be true.
The Bee Gees – Tales of the Brothers Gibb, Andrew Hughes
Robin Gibb is no less vague about what I Started a Joke is about:
This is a very soulful song. The listeners must interpret it themselves. Trying to explain the meaning would detract from the song.
The Mail on Sunday, 2009
Release and achievements
I Started a Joke was the last track recorded by the members of the Bee Gees for the Idea album. In December 1968, she released a single that topped the charts in Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Canada and New Zealand. The song climbed to number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
Video of I Started a Joke – Bee Gees by Bee Gees
The music video was directed by Jean-Christophe Averty. Filming took place in Brussels as part of the Idea TV Special project.
I Started a Joke covers
The song has been covered by many pop stars including Robbie Williams and the Pet Shop Boys. The most popular was the version of the American rock band Faith No More. Director Vito Rocco shot a colorful video for it with the participation of Martin Freeman, Sean Dingwall and David Hoyle.
Interesting Facts
- It was the last Bee Gees single featuring Vince Melouney.
- The members of Faith No More decided to record I Started a Joke after they heard it at a karaoke bar in Guam. It is said that the lyrics of the song were broadcast against the backdrop of pornographic scenes.
- The composition sounds in the soundtracks for The Fighter, The Conjuring 2 and other films.
I Started a Joke Lyrics by Bee Gees
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 said
‘Till 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 said
‘Till I finally died which started the whole world living
Oh if I’d only seen that the joke was on me
Oh no that the joke was on me
Lyrics I Started a Joke by Bee Gees Alternate
I cracked a joke that made the whole world cry
But I didn’t realize that I was kidding myself, oh no
I started to cry, which made the whole world laugh
Oh, if only I realized that I was kidding myself
I looked at the sky, wiping my eyes with my hands,
And fell off the bed, hitting his head on his words,
Until finally he died, because of which the whole world began to live
Oh, if only I realized that I was kidding myself
I looked at the sky, wiping my eyes with my hands,
And fell off the bed, hitting his head on his words,
Until finally he died, because of which the whole world began to live
Oh, if only I realized that I was kidding myself
Oh no, I was kidding myself
Song quote
When he passed away, we left, they removed the equipment, and we returned. I picked up my phone, found “I Started a Joke” on YouTube and turned it on. I put the phone on his chest and then burst into tears for the first time. I knew the song and its lyrics were perfect for the situation. From now on, this song will always have a new meaning for me.
Robin-John Gibb, son of Robin Gibb, The Sun
(after father’s death from kidney failure)
