Recitar!
Mentre presso dal delirio
Non so piu quel che dico
E quel che faccio!
Eppur и d'uopo... sforzati!
Bah! sei tu forse un uom?
Tu sei Pagliaccio!
Vesti la giubba
E la faccia infarina.
La gente paga e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin
T'invola Colombina,
Ridi, Pagliaccio...
E ognun applaudirа!
Tramuta in lazzi
Lo spasmo ed il pianto;
In una smorfia
Il singhiozzo e'l dolor...
Ridi, Pagliaccio,
Sul tuo amore in franto!
Ridi del duol
T'avvelena il cor!
As a clown myself I go to a local hospital and entertain children. A few years ago I sadly had to have my dog put to sleep but I still had to go entertain children a few hours later, if you saw me in make up and costume you never would have guessed I was so upset inside!
For those who don't know what this is about:
"Vesti la giubba" (Put on the costume) is a famous tenor aria from Ruggero Leoncavallo's 1892 opera Pagliacci. "Vesti la giubba" is sung at the conclusion of the first act, when Canio discovers his wife's infidelity, but must nevertheless prepare for his performance as Pagliaccio the clown because "The show must go on".
Heard joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor...I am Pagliacci.