This track is my tribute to the comic genius that was Robin Williams. The tragic image of the clown who wears a mask to hide his true feelings is an enduring one - at least as old as the 16th century Commedia dell'arte. In more recent times it has been expressed musically by Leoncavallo in his opera Pagliacci and in popular music by Dave Davies' "Death of a Clown" and by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "The Tears of a Clown". It was the latter track which gave me the idea of using a bassoon in the song and I added a piccolo and two flutes to heighten the tragic/comic effect. The music contains some jazzy chords similar to the ones I used in "Winston's Black Dog" and, as also in that track, I used a jazz guitar setting on my Variax guitar for the guitar solo. I decided to fade the track in an unconventional way with the bleak sounds of an arctic wind sweeping everything away to symbolise the self-destructive emotions that have plagued comedians such as Kenneth Williams, Tony Hancock and Robin Williams.
Instrumentation: All instruments played or programmed by Brian Parks:
Line 6 Variax bass guitar (simulating 1963 Fender Precision Bass), Line 6 Variax electric guitar (simulating 6 string Martin acoustic and Gibson ES-175), programmed bassoon, programmed flutes, programmed piccolo, programmed bongos, programmed 1970s Premier drumkit recorded at Abbey Road Studios, programmed Challon "tack piano" recorded at Abbey Road Studios, lead vocals, backing and harmony vocals, programmed female backing vocals.
Lyrics
Why do I smile for a while when you ask if I’m okay?
And I nod my head politely when I turn to walk away?
Because it’s easier that way. When there’s no words you can say
And if my face bears no trace of the feelings deep inside
Like a mask that you hold when there’s things you need to hide
It’s ‘cos it’s easier that way. When colour turns into grey
No-one sees behind the mask. Why would they even think to ask
When ev’rything seems fine and trouble-free?
But ev’ry smile conceals a fear that grows with each succeeding year
An all-consuming darkness that will bring you to your knees
And if the name of the game isn’t obvious to you
Then you’ve never had occasion to conceal your point of view
Because it’s easier that way. When there’s no words you can say
But ev’ry smile conceals a fear that grows with each succeeding year
An all-consuming darkness that will bring you to your knees
And there’s no way you can say it won’t happen for real
And you’ll never need to hide away the things that you feel
Because it’s easier that way. When colour turns into grey
So if I smile for a while when you ask if I’m okay.
And I nod my head politely when I turn to walk away
It’s ‘cos it’s easier that way. When there’s no words you can say
It’s easier that way. When colour turns into grey
It’s ‘cos it’s easier that way. When there’s no words you can say
Because it’s easier that way. When colour turns into grey