Death Of A Clown

Written by: Ray Davies/Dave Davies

Published by: Noma Music, Inc./Hi-Count Music, Inc. BMI

Chord file

Lyrics:

My makeup is dry and it clags on my chin
I'm drowning my sorrows in whisky and gin
The lion tamer's whip doesn't crack anymore
The lions they won't fight and the tigers won't roar

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
So let's all drink to the death of a clown
Won't someone help me to break up this crown
Let's all drink to the death of a clown
Let's all drink to the death of a clown

The old fortune teller lies dead on the floor
Nobody needs fortunes told anymore
The trainer of insects is crouched on his knees
And frantically looking for runaway fleas

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Let's all drink to the death of a clown
So won't someone help me to break up this crown
Let's all drink to the death of a clown
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
Let's all drink to the death of a clown
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

This song can be found on the following releases:

stereo mix (3:12), recorded Jun 1967 at Pye Studios (No. 2), London
Something Else By The Kinks 15 Sep, 1967 UK Pye NSPL 18193 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Something Else By The Kinks Dec 1967 Germany Pye/Hitton HTSLP 340044 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Something Else By The Kinks Jan 1968 USA Reprise RS 6279 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Something Else By The Kinks 1969 Brazil Musidisc HI-FI 2173 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
The Kink Kronikles 25 Mar, 1972 USA Reprise 2XS 6454 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
Golden Hour "Kinks"-Lola, Percy & The Apeman Come Face To Face With The Village Green Preservation Society... Something Else! 11 Oct, 1974 UK Pye/Golden Hour GHD 50 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
Candy From Mister Dandy 15 Jul, 1983 UK PRT DOW 12 10" vinyl mini-LP, 33 1/3 RPM
The Album That Never Was 19 Oct, 1987 UK PRT PYL 6012 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Something Else By The Kinks Dec 1987 UK PRT PYL 6007 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
The Album That Never Was Jan 1988 Germany PRT (Teldec) 8.26681 ZR CD
Something Else By The Kinks Jan 1988 Germany PRT/TELDEC 8.26674 ZR CD
The Kink Kronikles 10 Jan, 1989 USA Reprise 6454-2 2 CD set
The Ultimate Collection 4 Sep, 1989 UK Castle Communications CTVCD 001 CD
The Ultimate Collection 4 Sep, 1989 UK Castle Communications CTVLP 001 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
Something Else By The Kinks 18 Dec, 1989 UK Castle Communications CLACD 189 CD
Something Else By The Kinks 15 May, 1990 USA Reprise RS 6279-2 CD
The EP Collection Jun 1990 UK See For Miles SEECD 295 CD
The EP Collection 18 Jun, 1990 UK See For Miles SEE 295 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
The Complete Collection Nov 1991 EEC Castle Communications CCSCD 300 CD
The Kinks Story Vol. 2 1967-1971 Jul 1992 EEC Castle Communications EUKCD 102 CD
The Best Of The Ballads May 1993 Germany BMG/Arista 74321 13687 2 CD
60 Rock Shots Mar 1994 France Castle Communications/Une Musique PKF 563301 3 CD set
The Album That Never Was Jun 1994 Germany PRT (Castle Communication) CNC 4021-2 CD
The Kinks Remastered 28 Mar, 1995 UK Castle Communications ESB CD 268 3 CD set
The EP Collection 2 1 Aug, 2000 UK Castle Music/Sanctuary ESFCD 904 Multi CD box set
Something Else By The Kinks 20 Aug, 2001 UK Castle Music/Sanctuary CMTCD303 CD
The Ultimate Collection 27 May, 2002 UK Sanctuary Records Group RTV0023 2 CD set
The Pye Album Collection 25 Apr 2005 UK Castle Music/Sanctuary Records Group CMXBX 1125 Multi CD box set
Something Else By The Kinks (Deluxe Edition) 20 Jun, 2011 UK Sanctuary Records/Universal Music 273 214-1 2 CD set
The Essential Kinks 14 Oct 2014 USA RCA/Arista/Legacy (Sony Music) 88843066622 2 CD set

stereo mix, with studio chatter (3:30), recorded Jun 1967 at Pye Studios (No. 2), London
The Anthology - 1964-1971 17 Nov 2014 UK Sony/Legacy/BMG 88875021542 Multi CD box set

mono mix (3:01), recorded Jun 1967 at Pye Studios (No. 2), London
Death Of A Clown/Love Me Till The Sun Shines Jul 1967 Sweden/Norway Pye 7N 17356 7" vinyl single, 45 RPM
Death Of A Clown/Love Me Till The Sun Shines 7 Jul, 1967 UK Pye 7N 17356 7" vinyl single, 45 RPM
Death Of A Clown/Love Me Till The Sun Shines Aug 1967 Denmark Pye 7N 17356 7" vinyl single, 45 RPM
Death Of A Clown/Love Me Till The Sun Shines 2 Aug, 1967 USA Reprise 0614 7" vinyl single, 45 RPM
Something Else By The Kinks 15 Sep, 1967 UK Pye NPL 18193 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
The Kinks/Status Quo 1968 Brazil Musidisc MINI 9 7" vinyl Mini-LP, 33 1/3 RPM
Something Else By The Kinks Jan 1968 USA Reprise R 6279 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Something Else By The Kinks Feb, 1968 Canada Pye NPL 30111 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Dave Davies Hits 19 Apr, 1968 UK Pye NEP 24289 7" vinyl EP, 45 RPM
Something Else By The Kinks 1969 Brazil Musidisc HI-FI 2173 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
The Kinks 27 Feb, 1970 UK Pye NPL 18326 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
The File Series - The Kinks 14 Oct, 1977 UK Pye FILD 001 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
20 Golden Greats 20 Sep, 1978 UK Ronco (Pye) RPL 2031 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Spotlight On The Kinks Mar 1981 UK PRT SPOT 1009 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
Death Of A Clown/Susannah's Still Alive Nov 1981 UK Old Gold OG 9128 7" vinyl single, 45 RPM
The Kinks' Greatest Hits - Dead End Street 14 Oct, 1983 UK PRT KINK 1 12" vinyl LP (album) with bonus 10" vinyl disc, 33 1/3 RPM
The Kinks' Greatest Hits 3 Feb, 1984 UK PRT KINK 2 12" vinyl LP (album) with bonus 10" vinyl disc, 33 1/3 RPM
The Kinks Collection 27 Sep, 1985 UK Collector Series/Castle Communications CCSLP 113 12" vinyl 2-LP set (double album), 33 1/3 RPM
The Kinks Collection Jun 1987 UK Castle Communications CCSCD 113 CD
Hit Singles 28 Sep, 1987 UK PRT PYL 4001 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
Hit Singles Jan 1988 UK PRT PYC 4001 CD
The Kinks Sep 1991 EEC Music For Pleasure/EMI CD-MFP 5921/CDB 7 97481 2 CD
The Definitive Collection (26 Original Recordings) Sep 1993 UK Polygram TV 516 465-2 CD
The Very Best Of Mar 1997 UK Polygram TV 537 554-2 CD
The Singles Collection/Waterloo Sunset 29 Sep, 1997 UK Essential (Castle) ESSCD 592 (GAF 40 592 EFF) 2 CD set
Something Else By The Kinks 30 Mar, 1998 UK Essential/Castle Communications ESM CD 480 CD
The EP Collection 9 Nov, 1998 UK Castle ESFCD 667 Multi CD box set
Anthology - Unfinished Business 9 Nov, 1998 UK Essential/Castle Communications ESS CD 584 2 CD set
Something Else By The Kinks 26 Apr, 2004 UK Sanctuary Midline SMRCD029 CD
Picture Book 8 Dec, 2008 UK Universal/Sanctuary 5313049 Multi CD box set
Something Else By The Kinks (Deluxe Edition) 20 Jun, 2011 UK Sanctuary Records/Universal Music 273 214-1 2 CD set
Hidden Treasures 31 Oct, 2011 UK Sanctuary Records/Universal Music 277 765-3 CD
The Kinks In Mono 21 Nov, 2011 UK Sanctuary/Universal Music 602527769448 Multi CD box set
Waterloo Sunset - The Very Best Of The Kinks & Ray Davies 13 Aug 2012 UK Sanctuary Records/Universal Music 371 248-9 2 CD set

mono mix, BBC recording (2:56), recorded 4 Aug, 1967 at Playhouse Theatre, London
BBC Sessions 1964-1977 12 Mar, 2001 UK Sanctuary Records SANDD010 2 CD set
BBC Sessions 1964-1977 20 Mar, 2001 USA Sanctuary Records 06076 84504-2 2 CD set
Something Else By The Kinks (Deluxe Edition) 20 Jun, 2011 UK Sanctuary Records/Universal Music 273 214-1 2 CD set
The Kinks At The BBC - Radio & TV Sessions And Concerts: 1964-1994 13 Aug 2012 UK Sanctuary Records/Universal Music 279 721-8 Multi CD box set

stereo mix, abridged (2:25), recorded Jun 1967 at Pye Studios (No. 2), London
Then, Now And Inbetween Jul 1969 USA Reprise PRO 328 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM

mono mix, BBC recording, part of medley, "off-air bootleg" (2:10), recorded 22 Jul, 1968 at BBC Television Centre, Studio 8, London
The Kinks At The BBC - Radio & TV Sessions And Concerts: 1964-1994 13 Aug 2012 UK Sanctuary Records/Universal Music 279 721-8 Multi CD box set

live, stereo mix (1:03), recorded 24 Dec, 1977 at Rainbow Theatre, London
The Kinks At The BBC - Radio & TV Sessions And Concerts: 1964-1994 13 Aug 2012 UK Sanctuary Records/Universal Music 279 721-8 Multi CD box set

live, stereo mix, recorded 11 Apr, 1994 at Konk Studios, Hornsey, London
To The Bone 3 Oct, 1994 UK Konk/Grapevine KNKLP 1 12" vinyl LP (album), 33 1/3 RPM
To The Bone 3 Oct, 1994 UK Konk/Grapevine KNKCD 1 CD
To The Bone 15 Oct, 1996 USA Guardian 7243 8 37303 2 2 2 CD set
To The Bone 3 Mar, 1997 UK Guardian 7243 8 37303 2 1 2 CD set

stereo mix, by Andy & Rachel, recorded 1997
The Kover Kontroversy Jan 1997 USA - - Cassette

live, stereo mix (2:42), recorded 30 Apr 1997 at The Galaxy Theatre, Santa Ana, California
Around The Galaxy 24 Feb 2009 UK Meta Media MM-010 CD

live, stereo mix, recorded 26 or 29 Nov, 1997 at The Bottom Line, New York City
Rock Bottom - Live At The Bottom Line 27 Jun, 2000 USA Meta Media/Koch Records KOC-CD-8087 CD

stereo mix, acoustic version, recorded spring 1998 at Dave Nolte's home studio, Hollywood, California
Unfinished Business - Dave Davies Kronikles, 1963|1998 12 Jan, 1999 USA Meta Media/Velvel 63467-79718-2 2 CD set
Kinked 7 Mar, 2006 USA Koch Records KOC-CD-9996 CD
Living On A Thin Line 9 Sep 2022 UK BFD/Red River/Green Amp Records RRECD213 CD

live, stereo mix, recorded 6 Oct, 1999 at Marian College, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Solo Live - Live Solo Performance At The Marian College Todd Wehr Alumni Center 17 Jun, 2000 USA Meta Media MM03 CD

stereo mix, by Cymbals, recorded 2002
Kinky Boot Mar 2002 Japan Victor Entertainment VICL-60847 CD

stereo mix, by Monti Beton, recorded 2002
The Kinks Acoustic Songbook - Monti Beton Apr 2002 Austria Beton Music CD-LSP 1884 CD

live, stereo mix, recorded Spring-Summer 2002 at Unknown venue
Bugged... Live! 22 Oct, 2002 USA Meta Media MM 005 CD
BUG 14 Jul, 2004 UK Angel Air Records SJPCD179 CD

live, stereo mix, recorded 23 May, 2003 at Alex Theatre, Glendale, California
Transformation - Live At The Alex Theatre 6 Aug, 2003 USA Meta Media MM06 CD
Transformation - Live At The Alex Theatre 5 Sep, 2005 UK Angel Air Records SJPCD212 CD

live, stereo mix, recorded 13 Jun, 2004 at Stadtwerke Open Air Festival, Potsdam, Germany
Rainy Day In June 17 Jan, 2005 UK Meta Media MM07 CD

stereo mix, as "Am Grabe Des Clowns" by Wilfried, recorded 2004
LOLA! :kinks-klassiker interpretiert von ambros bis wilfried 11 Nov, 2004 Austria Universal Music GmbH 986 687 0 CD

stereo mix, by Quarter Draw Band, recorded 2007
KPS4 3603 - The Songs Of Dave Davies May 2007 USA KPS4 3608 CD

live, stereo mix (3:18), recorded 24-25 Nov 2014 at City Winery, New York City
Rippin' Up New York City - Live At City Winery NYC 4 Sep 2015 USA Red River Entertainment RRE-CD-169 CD

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E-mail Dave Emlen
KindaKinks.net


E-mail Dave Emlen