I Started a Joke is a song by the Bee Gees from their 1968 album Idea, which was released as a single in December of that year. It was not released as a single in the United Kingdom, where buyers who could not afford the album had to content themselves with a Polydor version by Heath Hampstead. This is the last Bee Gees single to feature Vince Melouney’s guitar work, as he left the band in early December after this song was released as a single.
This song was written by Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, and produced by the Bee Gees with Robert Stigwood. According to Robin Gibb …
“The melody to this one was heard aboard a British Airways Vickers Viscount about a hundred miles from Essen. It was one of those old four engine “prop” jobs, that seemed to drone the passenger into a sort of hypnotic trance, only with this it was different. The droning, after a while, appeared to take the form of a tune, which mysteriously sounded like a church choir. So it was decided! We accosted the pilot, forced him to land in the nearest village and there, in a small pub, we finished the lyrics [with Barry]. Actually, it wasn’t a village, it was the city, and it wasn’t a pub, it was a hotel, and we didn’t force the pilot to land in a field … but why ruin a perfectly good story?
There was a lot of psychedelia and the idea that if you wrote something, even if it sounded ridiculous, somebody would find the meaning for it, and that was the truth. This is a very spiritual song. The listeners have to interpret it themselves, trying to explain it would detract from the song.”
Robin Gibb’s son played I Started a Joke on his phone just after his father died from kidney failure on 20 May 2012. Robin-John Gibb told The Sun:
“When he passed away we went out, they took the equipment away and we came back in, I picked up my phone and found “I Started a Joke” on YouTube and played it. I put the phone on his chest and that was the first time I broke down. I knew that song and its lyrics were perfect for that moment. That song will always have new meaning to me now.”
This was famously covered by Faith No More and released as their last single, after the band already split up. They covered the song in 1995. It was released as a bonus track on the album King For A Day Fool For A Lifetime in Argentina in 1995 and as a B-side of the UK and European Limited edition versions of the “Digging The Grave” CD single, which came out February 28, 1995. London Records released it as a single after Faith No More split up in 1998.
I listened to the Faith No More version, fully expecting not to like it, but strangely I found it quite good, so I will include it, as well as the Bee Gees’ version here.
I Started a Joke
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
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Barry Gibb / Maurice Ernest Gibb / Robin Hugh Gibb
I Started a Joke lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
I seem to remember hearing this at least once. Hearing it now I like it a lot. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 — Suzanne
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I’m glad! Thanks, Suzanne!
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I used to hear Faith No More’s. It’s nice to know there is another version.
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Glad you enjoyed it!
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I always favoured the songs led by Robin so this was a treat. I don’t know if Faith No M was a real band butt this record was a fair compliment to the original.
Cwtch
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I’m glad you liked it! Yes, they were and are a real band, formed in 1979. They split in 1998, but got back together somewhere along the line and actually have a tour scheduled for next year.
Cwtch
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Great to hear Mike “Mr. Bungle” Patton cover this Bee Gees classic so elegantly. Performance artist Divine David lipsyncs to this video, but yes the actual singer is from FNM. They are not afraid to delve into experimental rock and other genres.
First heard this song from the trailer of last year’s blockbuster – The Joker. Song was used very effectively! ❤
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Love the original balladiers. Disco Bee Gees, This song, not too shabby.
not so much. My favourite came from a B-side, I Can’t See Nobody. It’s not a perfect song, awkward even in parts, but I was in the right mood when I first heard it. Have loved it ever since.
Was Faith No More an actual band? I thought the Karaoke theme was real.
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Yep, they were a band from 1979-1998 when they broke up. They actually released 6 albums during that time. Then they reunited and actually have a tour planned for next year. Check Wikipedia.
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Hmmm. They formed as a band in 1958, but it took till 1967 to score their first worldwide hit. They had a lot of hits before they went disco.
I am not at all sure what you mean by they were a band fron 1979…
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_No_More
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Wrong band, wrong they. Sorry, again.
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So … who were you thinking of?
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The Bee Gees. That was the band you were featuring I thought. I had no idea Faith No More was even a band. Never heard of them. That Karaoke video, it was horrible to Gail and I. We wondered why you included it, except as a “joke”!
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Ahhhhh … I should have known! My bad … tired and on overload, I guess, else surely I would have known.
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No proble. I am not totally with it myself. Saw my doc today, to get back all my test results. After 8+ weeks of pure hell, every test he ordered came back negative. Every one. We still hage no idea why I am feeling as lousy as I do. I wss not expecting this.I was looking forwatd to answers, and I got none. He is away for the next month on holidays. Probably he will go back to South Africa and doctot there in a free clinic. He does that every couple of years. I don’t think he went last year.
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It makes no sense at all that they cannot figure out what is wrong with you! But then … you are rather a unique person, so I guess it should be a surprise that you would have a unique illness. I do hope you feel better soon, though. Is he part of Médecins Sans Frontières? I very much admire those who are a part of that organization. However, you might have to find another doc if you don’t feel better soon.
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Don’t think he is docs without borders. He was born in South Africa. Might own part of the free clinic, I think.
He made some time and monetary donations, at least.
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Thumbs up to him, then!
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He is a white man brought up in apartheid, but he is human first before white. Somehow, thogh, he became a Trump supporter. Go figure!
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I was liking him a lot until you threw in that last bit! A Trumpeter??? Seriously??? WHY???
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I have to agree on Faith No More. Quite a surprise. Another favorite, Jill.
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Yes, a pleasant surprise! Glad you enjoyed it!
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Jill, thanks for sharing the earlier Bee Gees work. This live version is nicely done with an older Robin’s voice. Keith
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I’m glad you liked it! I enjoy seeing artists who have grown older, yet still have the talent, the voice …
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Beautiful song, but my twisted mind long ago came up with the line, “I started to choke, and started the whole world gagging…”. What can I say?
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🤣🤣🤣 Now you’ve nearly made me choke on my coffee! That’s funny!
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Sorry. Are you alright?
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Oh yes, just fine … in fact, the laugh was good for me!
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