When you search for the world's smallest violin on Google, it will give you a very,very,very common song by AJR.
So unless you have read or heard the term in a play or soap opera, you won't know that the world's smallest violin is not really a violin.
Technically you might have seen a cello a.k.a a big violin, a viola a.k.a a medium sized violin and a violin a.k.a a small violin. Even if you have unbelievably never seen the various sized violins you might have heard their melody.
A thorough internet research will tell you that violin music indicated sorrow and woe. That is a completely wrong concept. You can play a violin on a wedding as well as a funeral. You just cannot play the same tune.
Many literary famous characters are known to play the violin including Conan's creation, Sherlock Holmes and Eric from The Phantom of the Opera.
But even in the works of Conan you won't find the use of "world's smallest violin"
According to Oxford dictionary, " world's smallest violin is a humourous term used when one is complaining about little issues.
That is if you come to me and start crying about how you are unable to use hot water in winter due to faulty boiler while half of the city is under attack, you are playing the world's smallest violin.
And I may sarcastically condole you by saying, " Oh my! Let me play the world's smallest violin to console you".
And you know what, I absolutely hate this concept. Yes, half the world is suffering from climate change, the rest is on the brink of war, there's a pandemic, a political crisis, a global increase in inflammation and suffering but I need hot water. Well, I can't fix the boiler, I can't do what I want to do, I am absolutely helpless but I can play my violin.
And if I'm playing it, what's wrong? I'm not being ungrateful. I just want to vent my feelings out. I want you to hear this tune so that I'm satisfied and will continue my routine.
I'm sorry I can't conquer an island like my ancestors did, I can't bear hardships like my forefathers did, I can't do anything grand or great. I'm not majestic or supreme. I'm not even good. I'm busy existing. I'm busy keeping myself happy and well. And I am sick of the problems that might be too small or insignificant for anyone else but are life wrecking for me and I can't help but sometimes play the worlds smallest violin.
AJR's song actually just explains this whole concept. Yet people always focus on the music and not on the lyrics.
"Somewhere in the universe
Somewhere someone's got it worse
Wish that made it easier
Wish I didn't feel the hurt
The world's smallest violin
Really needs an audience
So if I do not find somebody soon
I'll blow up into smithereens
And spew my tiny symphony
All up and down a city street
While tryna put my mind at ease
Like finishing this melody
This feels like a necessity
So this could be the death of me
Or maybe just a better me
Now, come in with the timpanis
And take a shot of Hennessy
I know I'm not there mentally
But you could be the remedy
So let me play my violin for you"
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