Clowns
The Sad Circus: Decoding Life's Clownish Irony in Too Much Joy's 'Clowns'
Lyrics
When I was a kid my dad had pictures of these clowns
Childhood memories of the speaker's dad having pictures of clowns.
He hung them on my wall and wouldn't let me take them down
The dad displayed the clown pictures, refusing to let the speaker remove them.
I didn't understand then and I still can't figure out
The speaker still doesn't comprehend the clowns' significance.
What those goddamn clowns were so goddamn sad about
Puzzlement about why the clowns in the pictures appear sad.
Clowns were my boss at every job I ever had
Clowns metaphorically represent authority figures in the speaker's work.
Clowns run all the record companies that ever said we're bad
Record companies, seen as clowns, criticize the speaker's music.
Clowns pretended to be a girl who pretended to be my friend
A reference to deceptive relationships with individuals acting like clowns.
This world is run by clowns who can't wait for it to end
Critique of a world run by incompetent or absurd leaders.
I have yet to meet a kid not scared to death of clowns
Common fear in children of clowns due to their eerie appearance.
They don't walk and they don't talk they've got painted on frowns
Description of clowns lacking natural human traits with fixed expressions.
A clown with a gun I hope I never see
Fear of a clown with a weapon, questioning the potential danger.
Would he shoot himself or shoot me?
Dilemma about whether a threatening clown would harm itself or others.
A clown taught every class I took at my old high school
Reference to educators portrayed as clowns, suggesting incompetence.
Clowns all wear Speedos when they hang out by the pool
Humorously depicting clowns wearing Speedos by the pool.
Clowns dress up like cops and threaten to call my folks
Clowns impersonating authority figures and making empty threats.
This town is filled with clowns who don't get my jokes
The community filled with individuals who don't appreciate the speaker's humor.
They fall on their asses
Repetition emphasizing the difficulty and practice required for clowning.
It takes lots of practice
-They fall on their asses
-It takes lots of practice
-They fall
-They fall
-I have nightmares filled with clowns and you're there too
Nightmares featuring clowns, possibly symbolic of anxieties or fears.
You have a big red nose and stupid floppy shoes
Imagery of someone close adopting clown traits in the speaker's nightmares.
You're becoming one I can see the signs
The person in the nightmare transforming into a clown, indicating a negative change.
I hate clowns almost as much as I hate mimes
Expressing disdain for clowns, paralleling dislike for mimes.
A clown was my boss at every job I ever had
Reiteration of clowns as metaphorical bosses, emphasizing their influence.
Clowns run all the record companies that ever said we're bad
Record companies, portrayed as clowns, continue to criticize the speaker.
A clown pretended to be a girl who pretended to be my friend
Recollection of deceptive relationships with individuals posing as clowns.
This world is run by clowns who can't wait for it to end
Reiteration of a world governed by absurd or inept leaders.
Wait for it to end
Repeated anticipation or desire for the world to come to an end.
Wait for it to end
-Wait for it to end
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