The year was 1961, and I was about ten, my cousin, a local DJ, gave me a 45 RPM record for my birthday. It was my first real introduction into popular music, and it made it was a hit. That song was “Goodbye Cruel World” written by Gloria Shayne and performed by James Darren.
According to disc jockeys at the time the song was released, the calliope-like riff used in the song was a synthesized recording of a Shayne’s voice rather than a musical instrument.
Goodbye Cruel World
(Gloria Shayne)
(Goodbye cruel world)
(Goodbye cruel world)Oh, goodbye cruel world, I’m off to join the circus
Gonna be a broken-hearted clown
Paint my face with a good-for-nothin’ smile
’cause a mean, fickle woman turned my whole world upside down(Goodbye cruel world)
Farewell to love, I’m off to join the circus
Gotta find a way to hide my tears
Bet I’ll have them rolling in the aisle
And I’ll forget that woman if it takes a hundred yearsOh oh oh, step right up and take a look at a fool
He’s got a heart as stubborn as a mule
C’mon everybody, he’s good for a laugh
And no one could tell his heart is broken in halfWell, the joke’s on me, I’m off to join the circus
Oh, Mr. Barnum, save a place for me
Shoot me out of a cannon, I don’t care
Let the people point at me and stare
I’ll tell the world that woman, wherever she may be
That mean, fickle woman made a cryin’ clown outta me(Goodbye cruel world)
Shoot me out of a cannon, I don’t care
Let the people point at me and stare
I’ll tell the world that woman, wherever she may be
That mean, fickle woman made a cryin’ clown outta meGoodbye cruel world
Goodbye cruel world
[Fade]
Goodbye cruel world
Goodbye cruel world
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