Seeing Judy Collins perform “Send in the Clowns” live gave me a new appreciation for the song — and for the moments in life when things don’t unfold as we hoped.
I recently had the opportunity to see Judy Collins perform at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster. I was impressed with her vitality and wit at the age of 86 — talking and telling jokes between songs.
What struck me most, though, was her rendition of Send in the Clowns where she exuded such presence. So much so that the day after the concert, I began reading more about the song — a song that I’ve known for years but had never really looked at closely.
Original Meaning
Traditionally, the phrase “send in the clowns” was used literally by the ringmaster in circus performances when something went wrong. The clowns’ job was to distract the audience and ease the tension until the show could go on.
In Stephen Sondheim’s 1973 musical A Little Night Music, the phrase takes on a more poignant meaning. An aging actress hopes to rekindle a relationship with a former love, only to discover that the timing is wrong and she gets turned down.
In that moment of heartbreak, she sings “Send in the Clowns.” The phrase becomes a reflection on those times when life doesn’t unfold as we hoped, and all we can really do is accept the moment for what it is and carry on.
Judy Collins recorded the song in 1975, bringing it to a much wider audience and helping make “send in the clowns” a familiar expression for those bittersweet moments when life goes awry.
Where Life Mirrors Art
There was an added layer of irony that night at the Massey Theatre. As Judy sang, she suddenly stopped and had a full-blown coughing fit. She said she thought she was over a recent cold, but clearly she wasn’t. Yet she held herself with such steadiness and once the moment passed she continued beautifully.
At the end of the show, she received a standing ovation from an appreciative audience.
Shared Humanity
Watching her move through that moment showed me something deeper than professionalism. She simply stayed with herself until she was ready to continue. That quiet presence moved me more than anything else that night.
I hope that when my own “send in the clowns” moments arrive, I can meet them the same way she did that night: steady, human, unashamed, and willing to carry on with a full heart.
Below is a recent performance Judy Collins recorded with the same pianist who accompanied her at the Massey Theatre (there was no orchestra in the live show I attended). Her delivery carries the same tenderness, ache, and grace that moved me that night.