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'd said. [ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/bee_gees/i_started_a_joke.html ]
Til 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'd said.
Til I finally died, which started the whole world living,
Oh, if I'd only seen that the joke was one me.
I think it's about jesus, who in the end gave his life, for what? So the joke was on him... Still a lot of hatred, evil and violence- before, then and after,
I think that the lyrics mean that whenever he wanted positive things happening he got a negative reaction then went the negative (his dying) happened, positive things occurred. Murphy's law and the cruelties of life.
I see the song meaning that here's a man that doesn't fit in. When laughing, the world is crying. When crying, the world is laughing. He doesn't see why he can't fit in... He's blind. Blind to the world around him which leaves him feeling he doesn't make sense. He gives up... He dies. He does know the world will go on without him... He just wishes he understood it. This song seems to be written for the poor soul who feels that life had more to offer him... He just couldn't find it. Robin's voice in this song is amazing! Great vibrato and range! Love the song!