“The Great Sun Jester” relates to the stories of the Cyberpunk Godfather, Michael Moorcock, who co-wrote the song with the band. The Great Sun Jester and the Fireclown are both characters in Moorcock stories.
[Verse 1: Eric Bloom]
They have killed the Great Sun Jester
Who danced between the stars
They have stripped him of his manhood
Signs of Venus and of Mars
The cynics left him weeping
And the jackals left him torn
And the jester reaches out blind hands
He can touch the stars
No more!
[Chorus: Eric Bloom]
And he took the stars
In his hands
And as he scattered them he'd shout
"I'm the joker of the universe
I'm what it's all about"
Now he's dying in his grief
And the hard men dragged him down
They have killed the wild-eyed jester
They have killed the fire clown
[Verse 2: Eric Bloom]
Now his blind eyes seek the starlight
And his fingers seek controls
To take him into space again
Where he was both young and old
The dancer's stiff with pain
And they've made him kneel too long
And the madness they have driven out
They've left him cold
And sane!
[Chorus: Eric Bloom]
And he took the stars
In his hands
And as he scattered them he'd shout
"I'm the joker of the universe
I'm what it's all about"
Now he's dying in his grief
And the hard men dragged him down
They have killed the wild-eyed jester
They have killed the fire clown
[Outro: Eric Bloom]
He'll never sing his songs again...
He'll never dance between the stars again...
He'll never laugh again...
No, he'll never, ever laugh again...
Oh, no...
He'll never laugh again!
He'll never laugh again!
He'll never laugh again!
He'll never laugh again!
Again!
He'll, he'll never laugh again!
The Great Sun Jester was written by John Trivers & Eric Bloom & Michael Moorcock.
The Great Sun Jester was produced by Tom Werman.
Blue Öyster Cult released The Great Sun Jester on Tue Jun 19 1979.