Roy Orbison - The Comedians Lyrics

simplemente el mejor


I sat there alone upon the ferris wheel
A pastel-colored carriage in the air
I thought you'd leave me dangling for a little while
A silly twist upon a childish dare
Below I saw you whispering to another man
Who held the lever that could bring me down
He'd stop the world from turning at your command
It's always something cruel that laughter drowns


And I'm up while the dawn is breaking
Even though my heart is aching
I should be drinking a toast
To absent friends
Instead of these
Comedians


I can hardly hear the music from the carousel
The wind picks up, the carriage starts to sway
As one by one the lights go out, it's closing time
I see you take his hand and walk away, walk away


They say that you will always be the last to know
They say that all that glitters is not gold
It's not just that you're never coming back to me
It's the bitter way that I was told


And I'm up while the dawn is breaking
Even though my heart is aching
I should be drinking a toast
To absent friends
Instead of these
Comedians

Image ratio fail this should be in 4:3.

Why is it the one can't listen to Roy's songs without a tear forming in ones eye? Could it be the beautiful voice, the words of the songs, knowing the tragedy in the man's life or all of the above?

If this was the only song Elvis Costello ever wrote, he'd be famous for it. Thankfully he wrote so many others equally magisterial.

I know this was written by Costello (&maybe big O himself) I don’t know- Just amazing x

What a way to say "adios amigo" (there's 51 ways to leave your lover)!

The three greatest purveyors of the unrequited love song - Roy Orbison, Helen Shapiro & (early) Neil Diamond

Written by Elvis Costello👍

Greatest Pop singer that ever lived

to be left (for another) at the top of a ferris wheel.,.,.,sad indeed!

Twenty-five comedians don't like this beautiful song... .

aquesta cançó em te el cor robat.gracies per haber existit.

One of his more underrated songs, I think this is just beautiful and should be on any greatest hits of his.

Beautiful... Just beautiful.

This song to me is like someone's bad dream during a fitful nights sleep.

God Bless Roy Orbison:
Music's Patron Saint of the Sad and Broken-Hearted

My heart goes out to this great man! He died too soon and had a hard life. In top of that he had to deal with the Beatles and Elvis in his prime!

I love this

Should have 7 billion views

ronald koziel

I've never heard this song before, but as usual Roy Orbison sings it perfectly. Why isn't it on here with the other songs from Black and White Night? It would have been a great addition.

With the lyrical content and the beat behind it it's astounding they didn't find a use for this in the Watchmen movie. It's such a powerful and beautiful piece of music it would have fit perfectly when Blake was knocked out of the window.

The King, beautiful

Love the imagery of this song...the story...but if one thinks of it...the poor guy was left hanging why his woman left him for a carney who ran the ride...if she left for that...he didn't lose much!

Anyone who gives this a bad review must live on a different planet from me. one of the most beautifull songs ever written thanks to Declan then sung from the heart by Roy. Simply wonderfull

It's not just that you're never coming back to me; it's the bitter way that I was told.

The dude had piiiiipes

Beautiful song,I cried

There's so much going on here. Love it like I do all of Roy's treasures...

There is only one Roy Orbison he is a Absolutley Amazing Singer

There was a great Roy Orbison impersonator called Gerry Grant who looked and sounded like Roy.Even Roy Orbison approved when he met in a nightclub in Manchester England Check this out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwTXUqyxmdw&start_radio=1&list=RDhwTXUqyxmdw and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddPhQ5DJ9n4 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8iOEerM0n0 Sadly he passed away in 2010 aged 64

Ron Tutt holds down the beat effortlessly and beautifully.

I recall when i first heard this song thinking it was one of his 1960s recordings...it just fits in with the rest of his catalogue so well that youd never know it was by elvis costello. Love this song!

Niesamowity głos :)

The people that give this man and this song a thumbs down ,have no pulse, cause their dead!

Only a person possessing an immense amount of talent could be precocious enough to write a song for the legendary singer Roy Orbison and actually pull it off: the equally legendary Elvis Costello!

19 people don't like this song what planet u on Roy is the best singer in the world xxx

Let's all "drink a toast to absent friend's".

Fabulous. Great song. Thank you Andy  Wilkins for sending me the link.

Well, he was brilliant, wasn't he? Love you Roy! And of course, a brilliant song by Elvis Costello makes it perfect!

he strong inside

The phenomenal Roy Orbison

just a perfect song sung by the best voice the world will ever know

One genius channeling the other...thank you Roy and E.C.

Great way of putting it Raincoatdriver

terrific song, and delivered so powerfully - operatic Roy !

So fucking nice!
I love this!!!
Thanks Roy and Elvis Costello.

Great song, good beat, good story, Great finish by Roy and Roy's high notes at the end.

Whoever doesn't like this has a dog's ears.

Dog's ears are very sensitive.

Best voice ever even though I like Elvis more

To Frank Curry,  I totally agree with you, truly incredible music

What an astounding performer.

the greatest

Amazing big o

quite simply a great song sung by one of the all time best pop singers

a rescued song by costello put in its rightful place with mr orbison - sublime

Its the bitter way I was told 💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧

A super show.

Listen, Roy... Once you figure out what a joke everything is, being The Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

Unless you have some ounce of decency and integrity...

Szia " bill pattersonn" biztos vagyok benne , hogy van fordító programod ! Üdvözöllek !!
Hogy tudd .....ez a MI bojgóng ....... a zene és szeretet égiteste......csak sok pénzéhes BUTA
EMBER ezt megpróbálja tönkre tenni .......pedig jobb sorsra utalt ...A MI ISTENÜNK!!

Ferenc Péter Petrovics Yeah...Exactly.

"Absent Friends!"

Brilliant

Legend...

WALK AWAY  --  SHIVERS!!

frank curry yeah man. So poignant.

so, so wonderful...thank you for this song!

thank elvis Costello for writing it

Incredible Singer - No one will ever come close - Absolutely Amazing !!!!

Well no need to get on your high horse mate - Elvis was Great too - The second best singer of all time Haha !

Thanks for the comment - Must be awful having hearing difficulties - It would make me swear too !

100% agree no one can match him 🕶

@The One and Only KC Elvis lol

TheOneAndOnly KC. You Know I'm Right, So F-ck Off. Do you worship Satan ?

simply put Roy is a legend,untouchable

To watch this video of Roy is so enjoyable, your not only hearing but also seeing one of the greatest singers ever in the history of "Rock & Roll". What a terrible tragedy it was to the world of music that we lost Roy at such a young age. Roy truly is an Icon and Legend in the history of Rock & Roll.

+Milton Williams So happy that you also think he is one of the greatest of all times...

Absolutely true!!!!

I would really love to know the story behind this song, it's so different. !!!

My favourite song from the Man. Declan what a job you did in writing this, and Roy, nobody could have done with it what you did. A quarter of a century on, it still give me goosebumps and tears me up. Powerful, powerful, powerful! Thank you Mr Orbison for the legacy you've left us. That voice is eternal.

it's as if Costello wrote this with Roy in mind, although Costello recorded this b4 this concert

I got the same feelings with this song...

Brilliant song but betrayal is so devastating on the Spirit.

"this song was written by elvis costello especially for roy" - sukes58. Is that why the lyrics are completely different from Costello's own version on the 'Goodbye Cruel World' LP?

He was there, KD lang, Bruce sprinsteen, Elvis costello and such..

no music like this today..just about brings tears..his soaring voice

elvis Costello genius

@graydon blower ???? This is legendary Roy Orbison. Drink some coffee

elvis costello  wrote the song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you drink some tea!!!!!!!!!!

+Mark Lowe Wrong son. This is mostly legendary Elvis Costello

Mark Lowe I say, you ARE an ass.

This is my favourite song ever I think.  So melancholy, yet uplifting, with Roy's mellow and intimidating voice.  This is one of the best live song performances ever.

This must be the best voice in rock and roll history, probably in music history. 

Inconceivable that this song could ever be performed better than this . Roy you were an amazing vocalist and I wish you were still with us and recording in you 70s. It is our loss that you were taken so prematurely.

@King of Baluur:  Not only is Elvis Costello playing behind Orbison, Costello wrote this song.

And freely admits that Orbison totally took it to the next level :)

Steve G Costello at least wrote this masterpiece

Thanks for the comment

.........The video is Beautiful too. Amazing cast. Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen included = WOW.

This is my most favourite song of all time at the moment equal to Gary Numan's CARS.

Don't spoil the romance of the song :-)

2 people were left on the ferris wheel...

Many thanks for the comment-at 71 I can make the same claim!

I grew up with the "Big O" and his beautiful tenor voice.Thanks for posting.Also Stephen Foster's "Beautiful Dreamer" is even more beautiful when Roy sings it and is definitely worth a listen.
Cheers nam9506 (Australia)

Haha, good joke, everybody laughs, drums, curtains.

love this song and roy orbison rocks thanks for great video takecare evryone love u all

Cheers Frank and agreed

This is Awesome. Best singer of all time. "Walk Away" just gets to me. So much feeling.
Check out "This Is My Land" by Roy Orbison. It"s Beautiful....Frank UK.

The best man and music!

Running scared is another example...'she turned around and walked away with me' Roy shared all our fears........

I love how he ends up getting the girl in "Pretty Woman". He's pretty much given up on her when, "What do I see?...She's walkin' back to me...." Sometimes good guys come out on top after all.

Agreed 100% on all counts and thanks for the comment!

One of my favs...as far as putting you there and feeling the emotion...Roy...Willy...and Simon and garfunkle I hold major candles too....so much soul and pain.

Mine too and cheers for the comment!

Thanks for the comment and yes, a big surprise, there always seems to normally be an angry young man somewhere who feels the need to dislike a video irrespective of its merit!!

Wow 100 likes NO dislikes

Ole Anderson on drums!

redheadedgolem Ron Tutt; aka Elvis’, Neil Diamond’s, Jerry Garcia’s, drummer. Not to mention a countless studio resume’.

Very well spoken William.......

Many thsnkd for your kind comment-a great man indeed

This is a particularly interesting "celebrity tribute". Whereas in most you'll see the guest of honor interacting with the players and other celebrities. In this one, Roy cracks the whip and there's no question that it's "The Roy Orbison Show". Love this guy- he was the other side of the Elvis coin. Whereas the teenaged girls would sit at home crying waiting for a call from Elvis, Roy was the one who understood their loneliness and what it was like to spend Friday night at home.

can any modern day "pop" artist command a backing band of all time great artists? no! because they all fail in comparison to the big O