MARILLION - "Script for a Jester's Tear"

Marillion
"Script for a Jester's Tear"
Album: Script for a Jester's Tear
Released: 14 March 1983
Writers: Fish, Steve Rothery, Pete Trewavas, Mark Kelly, Mick Pointer
Label: EMI

"Script for a Jester's Tear" is a song by the British neo-progressive rock band Marillion from their debut album of the same name, released in 1983 through EMI. 

Marillion's album: "Script for a Jester's Tear", 1983

Marillion - "Script for a Jester's Tear (audio)

Allmusic review by John Franck: "...Filled with extraordinary songs that remained staples in the band's live gigs, the album begins with the poignant title track, on which Fish leads his band of merry men on a brokenhearted tour de force that culminates with the singer decrying that '…the game is over.'..."

Sputnikmusic review by Matthijs van der Lee: "... 'Script for a Jester's Tear' that tilts things off is introduced excellently by the singer, who, accompanied by a simple keyboard arrangement, builds up his vocals from a soft crooning until an explosive climax:

‘So here I am once more in the playground of the broken hearts
One more experience, one more entry in a diary, self-penned
Yet another emotional suicide overdosed on sentiment and pride
Too late to say I love you, too late to re-stage the play
Abandoning the relics in my playground of yesterday

I'm losing on the swings, I'm losing on the roundabouts
I'm losing on the swings, I'm losing on the roundabouts
Too much, too soon, too far to go, too late to play, the game is over
The game is over

So HERE I AM once more in the playground of the BROKEN heart
I'm LOSING on the swings, losing on the roundabouts, the game is OVER, OVER…'..."

Marillion - "Script fro a Jester's Tear" (lyrics)

Marillion - "Script for a Jester's Tear" (Hammersmith Odeon)

Marillion - Sript for a Jester's Tear artwork

Progarchives review by Certif1ed: "...;Script...' works its way through a series of neck hair-raising highs, starting with the gorgeously rich bass entry, and never stops working through the story of the artist exploring his emotions after the break up of a relationship in which the protaganist suffers deeply from unrequited love, and even describes the process of writing a song about it "I act the role in classic style of a martyr carved with twisted smile - to bleed the lyric for this song, to write the rites to right my wrongs - An epitaph to a broken dream, to exorcise this slient scream...". All this over a winding bass line and light keyboard melody - and the word "scream..." is delivered in a muted, gasping fashion, making this a very powerful passage. But there's more power and drama to come - just listen..."

Line-up / Musicians:
Fish – vocals
Steve Rothery – guitars
Mark Kelly – keyboards
Pete Trewavas – bass
Mick Pointer – drums

Link / Review:
sputnikmusic: Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear album review
allmusic: Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear (album)
progarchives: SCRIPT FOR A JESTER'S TEAR Marillion