...bee gees song "i started a joke about"?

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Answer by Bonnie Jean
Submitted on 3/21/2005
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The Death of Ivan Ilych (by Leo Tolstoy). Ivan is a judge. He lives as though he is constantly judged by his chosen peers. He dies in agony realizing only in the final throes of his death that his behaviour and attitude has isolated him from all his fellow men. He is, by his own admission good at everything worth judging him on, and therefore admired by his circle of peers. He has, however rejected all human emotion, all connectedness, all love - either giving or receiving, until he is on his deathbed. The joke is that his life of judgement is no life at all - and so the joke is on him, as he only realizes as he slips into the black bag of death. He tries to warn his family, who are following in his footsteps, but he cannot utter anything coherent. He tried to ask their forgiveness for the path he has taken them down - the path to Hell and condemenation, but he is not understood. And he finally dies, which starts all those who read and reecive the message living to save their souls. There are parallels with the Christ story, but I will say no more now.

Answer by Pfefferminza85
Submitted on 11/21/2005
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Well, the idea of Jesus Christ is an interesting point of view, but I think that's not what the song is about. It is a very sad song, but the massage of Christ is not sad, Christ is seen as a symbol of hope and love, not of sadness. I share Swarnendus opinion. The song is about a happy young man, who is optimistic, funny, maybe a bit too naive. Maybe a child in his heart, maybe a dreamer, maybe in love. He only wanted to enjoy life, to live his life happy and funny, and he made "a joke", didn't thought about it, just did it. His expectation was that the world would laugh about the joke and that everything would be funny and happy as it was. But the opposite happened: The world started to cry. So the young man is very confused and disappointed, sad, thinks that it was his fault, that he would have done something wrong, he feels guilty. He is so sad, that he starts to cry. And now the world starts to laugh. And the young man doesn't understand anything. Everything seems to be in confusion. He is treated like a fool and he still feels guilty and more and more confused - although he IS not guilty, but he doesn't know that. I think he is self-reproachful. He looks to the sky, because he is looking for an answer, he does not know what to do. So this is a typical gesture, to look to the sky, when you are despaired. He feels a lot of pain and can't even sleep, because he is always thinking about the mistakes he made. He doesn't think that the world could have made the mistake, he is only self-reproachful and destroys himself with these thoughts. He becomes depressive, because you can hear the words: "I finally die". He never found his happiness again and he has the feeling, that everything he did and said was wrong, that his life was senseless, that he was senseless, that the world didn't need him. And more than that: He thinks, that the world would be happy when he would leave it, because "the world started living" after he died. In my opinion it's a song about a young man in a very bad time of his life - and the song describes only his depressive thoughts, because if it would describe the "fictive reality", he would not be able to say what's happened after his death. Sorry for my bad English - I'm not a native speaker... :-)

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Question by Donna
Submitted on 12/8/2003
Related FAQ: Bee Gees Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Part 1/4
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What is the bee gees song "i started a joke about"?

Answer by duster
Submitted on 1/27/2004
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The life of Jesus Christ.

Answer by zxp
Submitted on 3/9/2004
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You can find help with playing

Answer by Swarnendu
Submitted on 4/2/2004
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A fun-loving guy discovering not so funny ratings,status,discrimins etc. in this world based on all sorts of criteria or a plain nasty twist of fate & realizing what the 'joke' is all about

Answer by little star
Submitted on 4/20/2004
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Although Christ knew it was prophesied that his message would be rejected by the people it was difficult for him to accept their nonbelief. Christ was not claiming that his message was a "joke" but only that that was the opinion of many people he preached to. Thus "I fell out of my bed, hurting my head from things that I said" referred to the realization (the old "bump" on the head which turns on the lightbulb and causes you to realize or understand something previously misunderstand) in this case that prophesy was coming true.

Answer by jimbo
Submitted on 6/19/2004
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i thought it was simulating the sounds on an airplane

Answer by Karen Johnson
Submitted on 7/20/2004
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I've always thought it was about __ the joke starts the whole world crying but the joke is on me

Answer by bent4toons
Submitted on 10/15/2004
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I think it's about Kevin Smith's "Dogma", which ironically, makes the song prophetic.

Answer by Nemo
Submitted on 10/30/2004
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I think the song is about Hitler. Just play close attention to the lyrics. "I finally died which started the whole world living..."

Answer by ProductOf TheSixties
Submitted on 1/22/2005
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I was searching on the answer to this queston. I vaguely recollect the Bee Gees said something publicly that impacted thier popularity. Thus thier response with publishing the son "I Started A Joke"

Answer by Goodheart458
Submitted on 2/7/2005
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I've heard that "I started a joke", was in reference to Hitler.

Answer by tazz22520
Submitted on 4/1/2005
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i think the song is about the life of christ good song.....doesnt matter..........use it as you need it....only live once....enjoy the music!

Answer by iluvcutestuf
Submitted on 4/7/2005
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I believe that the Christ way of looking at it is possible, but perhaps it was simply that when people make mistakes and don't realize it, it evokes a sense of pity in the beholder. but as soon as the mistake is realized, it becomes hilarious, as the audience can gloat over the victims stupidity, and how long it took them to realize it. however, i am only 14, so it is probable I'm wrong :)

Answer by Dave
Submitted on 7/28/2005
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the song is about someone who told a joke so amazingly bad that the whole world began to cry.

Answer by Lauw
Submitted on 8/12/2005
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It's about me

Answer by JoJo
Submitted on 6/27/2006
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It's about puting ego infront and putting yourself above others. Everyone cried as he made jokes about them (which he tought were funny) trying to elevate his ego by puting others down. As he came to suffering the ridiculed took pleasure in his crying. He was sad because he couldn't live up to his ego impression of self he had a breakdown, fell out of bed and awoke to realize his essence was spirit not ego and accepted others as equals and brothers. Until 'I finaly died' speaks to ego being released and allowing spirit being allowed to come forward and be realized. He was amazed at the beauty in people and the world. :-)

Answer by jeff powell
Submitted on 8/5/2006
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my opinion: the writer was aware of the worlds vision of him, but personally had such a strong and adverse vision of himself, yet also agreed with the world's view... yet emotionally and intellectually denied his worth, but hoped and felt suicidal... they'll be sorry when i'm gone. and we are

Answer by zug
Submitted on 2/25/2007
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It can't be understood. Why would a joke cause the "whole world" to start crying except the joke teller?. Right off that is senseless. Unfortunately a lot of '60s and '70s lyrics were not composed by first-rate poets. The main criteria for pop songs is a catchy tune; the lyrics are far less important.

Answer by Rich
Submitted on 7/7/2007
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It is quite obvious. When god was "one" as in before the "big bang' and very much lonely, he exploded himself to know himself (this created duality and what the Budhists call the 10,000 things). This created the "Joke" and we have been living it ever since. HANG IN THERE!! Vishnu is sleeping on mount Kaliosh but may wakeup at any moment. Uhuh?

Answer by krhu
Submitted on 10/18/2005
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According to the BeeGees, Adolph Hitler

Answer by Rhagg
Submitted on 11/13/2005
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Adolph Hitler

Answer by BRUCE GELMAN
Submitted on 12/9/2005
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ITS ABOUT CHRIST...The joke is the realization albeit too late that he was used by everyone for political ends which included his death.His message was twisted from day one.

Answer by brendan schumacher
Submitted on 12/21/2005
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its about a serial killer

Answer by Labia
Submitted on 1/6/2006
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It's about James trust me. If you knew him you would believe it.

Answer by crier
Submitted on 3/18/2006
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Sadness that he feels like a social outcast.

Answer by Queen 4ever
Submitted on 5/7/2006
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It's about someone who wouldn't pay attention to the feelings of others. In the end, no one wanted to be seen with him.

Answer by toro
Submitted on 5/27/2006
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Hitler, the joke was world domination

Answer by Brazilian friend
Submitted on 6/4/2006
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I think this is a great song and i agree with what our friend "little star" said. Perhaps this song could have more than 1 sense...

Answer by me
Submitted on 6/5/2006
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Its about his brother who died because he took drugs nothing to do with jesus !!

Answer by mee
Submitted on 6/5/2006
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Dont You Know Enything !! It Was About His Younger Brother Who Took drugs (the joke) the died (the joke was on him ) the hole word laughing (because most people just started to take him as a joke ) the hole world crying (because he died )

Answer by the yankees
Submitted on 6/23/2006
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This is about communism.

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