Introduction
Robin Gibb – “I Started a Joke” and the Final Farewell
In an emotional and heartfelt moment during the funeral of Robin Gibb, the legendary member of the Bee Gees, the song “I Started a Joke” played as a final farewell — a ballad rich in emotion, layered meaning, and quiet reflection. Sung by Robin himself, the song was more than just music; it was a whisper from his soul — profound, melancholic, and spiritually resonant.
“This is a very spiritual song. The listeners have to interpret it themselves; trying to explain it would detract from the song,” Robin once said. And indeed, he left behind a piece that speaks louder in silence than any words ever could.
“I Started a Joke” tells a sorrowful story — one of a man who unwittingly becomes the punchline of the world, only realizing the tragedy of it all too late. The haunting melody, paired with Robin’s fragile and trembling voice during the service, seemed to cut through the air and pierce the hearts of those in attendance. Each line feels like a quiet confession, a late awakening:
“Till I finally died, which started the whole world living…”
Perhaps, in death, Robin didn’t just take his music with him; he left behind a message — that every person’s existence holds meaning, even when misunderstood, taken lightly, or only fully seen in the end.
With “I Started a Joke,” Robin Gibb didn’t say goodbye with grand words, but with a tender, sorrowful melody — one that lingers, echoing softly in the hearts of all who listened. A farewell that was as beautiful as it was heartbreaking.