Introduction
The Choir in the Engine: The Story Behind “I Started a Joke”
In 1968, 18-year-old Robin Gibb sat inside a four-engine Vickers Viscount airliner cruising somewhere over Western Germany. While most passengers tuned out the mechanical hum, Robin listened intently. To him, the steady drone of the engines transformed into a melody resembling a church choir. That moment inspired “I Started a Joke,” a track recorded for the Bee Gees’ album Idea that ultimately reached the top of charts in Canada, Australia, and the US.
Robin was a prolific songwriter who turned personal experiences into music. Just months prior, he survived the tragic Hither Green rail crash in London—which killed 49 people—and channeled the ordeal into the song “Really and Sincerely.” Driven by a relentless creative energy, his twin brother Maurice noted that Robin simply could not stop writing, treating every quiet hour as work.
When explaining the origin of “I Started a Joke” in the 1991 Bee Gees Anthology, Robin added a comedic twist, claiming the brothers forced the pilot to land near a small village so they could finish the lyrics in a pub. He immediately confessed it was a joke, shrugging, “Why ruin a perfectly good story?” While the flight details blurred over time, the core remained: Robin’s mind possessed a unique form of auditory pareidolia, finding intricate music within ambient mechanical noise.
The song itself is famously enigmatic, exploring themes of grief, alienation, and irony. As Robin once shared:
“I started a joke which started the whole world crying…”
— Robin Gibb, “I Started a Joke”
While Barry suggested the cryptic lyrics reflected the psychedelic trend of the era, Robin viewed it as a deeply spiritual piece, intentionally leaving its meaning open to listener interpretation.
“I Started a Joke” marked a pivotal chapter for the band. It was the last single featuring guitarist Vince Melouney, and rising tensions between Robin and Barry soon led to a temporary split in 1969. Despite the band’s internal struggles, the song took on a life of its own, covered over the decades by diverse artists ranging from Faith No More to the Pet Shop Boys.
In May 2012, Robin Gibb passed away at age 62 after battling cancer and illness. Moments after his death, his son Robin-John played “I Started a Joke” on his phone, resting it on his father’s chest—a poignant farewell honoring a classic born four decades earlier from the roar of an airplane engine.