This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Darling i've been down and out
ever since you left town
I aint been the same no matter how i try
sometimes we dont get to choose
the ones who wear these walking shoes
I'm just a poor boy with the blues
no I ain't nothin new
I'm gonna fill this whiskey cup
and i'm gonna pick this banjo up
I'm gonna play with the tragedies
singing good time harmonies
B Wright dont you let me down
play that one called sad clown
You know that ones about me
I've been thinking about leaving town
Well sunshine she came out today
and it dont matter anyways
cuz i still see the water
thats drippin down my door
i used to hear the children play
i used to hear the birds sing
one day they just stopped
i dont hear them anymore
I'm gonna fill this whiskey cup
and i'm gonna pick this banjo up
I'm gonna play with the tragedies
singing good time harmonies
B Wright dont you let me down
play that one called sad clown
You know that ones about me
I've been thinking about leaving town
Oh and i got caught in this whistling wind
doin my best to regret these sins
Lord would you forgive me if you know that i'm gonna do it again
its not that i'm not sorry Lord, its just that im not strong
oh cuz when that woman looks at me i cant remember right from wrong
I'm gonna fill this whiskey cup
and i'm gonna pick this banjo up
I'm gonna play with the tragedies
singing good time harmonies
B Wright dont you let me down
play that one called sad clown
You know that ones about me
I've been thinking about leaving town
Sad clown, sad clown
watch the wheels roll around
take that money into town
go buy a drink
sad clown, sad clown
always with that same frown
circus train got you down,
you're thinking bout leaving town
ever since you left town
I aint been the same no matter how i try
sometimes we dont get to choose
the ones who wear these walking shoes
I'm just a poor boy with the blues
no I ain't nothin new
I'm gonna fill this whiskey cup
and i'm gonna pick this banjo up
I'm gonna play with the tragedies
singing good time harmonies
B Wright dont you let me down
play that one called sad clown
You know that ones about me
I've been thinking about leaving town
Well sunshine she came out today
and it dont matter anyways
cuz i still see the water
thats drippin down my door
i used to hear the children play
i used to hear the birds sing
one day they just stopped
i dont hear them anymore
I'm gonna fill this whiskey cup
and i'm gonna pick this banjo up
I'm gonna play with the tragedies
singing good time harmonies
B Wright dont you let me down
play that one called sad clown
You know that ones about me
I've been thinking about leaving town
Oh and i got caught in this whistling wind
doin my best to regret these sins
Lord would you forgive me if you know that i'm gonna do it again
its not that i'm not sorry Lord, its just that im not strong
oh cuz when that woman looks at me i cant remember right from wrong
I'm gonna fill this whiskey cup
and i'm gonna pick this banjo up
I'm gonna play with the tragedies
singing good time harmonies
B Wright dont you let me down
play that one called sad clown
You know that ones about me
I've been thinking about leaving town
Sad clown, sad clown
watch the wheels roll around
take that money into town
go buy a drink
sad clown, sad clown
always with that same frown
circus train got you down,
you're thinking bout leaving town
Lyrics submitted by DeannaBean
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great song..
can't believe no one else has commented on this one.
A song about struggling to live with our regrets, or with the people we have hurt. Wanting to leave town and start a new life somewhere else cuz he is dissatisfied with the way life has panned out for him in his current town. "It's not that Im not sorry, its just that Im not strong" - such rugged honestly about the temptation that has plagued men since Eden. Somehow whiskey and the banjo are his only escape, however temporary their comfort, they're usually welcome.
Rugged honesty is right on. I love how he says "i'm just a poor boy with the blues, no i aint nothin new". Most heartbroken people think theirs is the only one yet he's self aware enough to know heartache has been around forever. Such great song.
when i first heard this the ending was really emotional, i didn't really know what he was saying but it nearly got a tear out of me. God likes this song, i know he told me. i was playing music, and before this song came on, we were discussing what God might like to listen to in my mind, and then the thought came, this is the one he likes.
Who is B Wright?
I cant find anyone called that who sings/plays a song called sad clown
B Wright is Brian Wright. Joe plays with Brian Wright and the Waco Tragedies. The line, "I'm gonna play with the Tragedies" is a reference to them as well.
brian wright does, in fact, have a song called "sad clown." in fact, i though this song was actually called "ode to sad clown" in honor of brian's original.
here's the link to brian's song: cdbaby.com/cd/brianwrightwaco
you can hear brian singing on this song of joe's nearer the end. hear the husky voice singing about wheels roll 'round? that's brian. and everyone should be his fan. he's astounding.
I find it comical how in the comment section of some songs someone says I can’t believe no one‘s commented on the song and then that’s it that’s all they say they don’t actually comment on the song! It kills me every time. Lol!! I think the song is about someone who he was having an affair with who was either married or was someone Else all together seems to come and go into his town and he just can’t stop cheating and he knows it’s wrong that’s why in the song it says doing my best to regret the sins and Lord please forgive me. But he really doesn’t care or give a damn,