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On With The Motley
Julie Bracken posted a photo:
The first recorded use of ‘on with the motley’ is in Pagliacci, an opera by Ruggiero Leoncavallo, 1892
Meaning
Put on your costume and apply make up to your face.
The people pay, and they want to laugh.
And if Harlequin invites away Colombina
Laugh, Pagliaccio., and everyone will applaud!
Turn the spasms and tears into jokes,
The tears and pain into grimaces, Ah!
For our Italian admirers..
Vesti la giubba e la faccia infarina.
La gente paga, e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin t’invola Colombina,
ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudirà!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto
in una smorfia il singhiozzo e ‘l dolor, Ah!
~Videolink to Luciano Pavarotti singing the title role
And let’s not forget the story: Pagliacci got to know that his wife is cheating on him and he still has to go out on stage and make people laugh .
The Fourth Space
33655
1 Jun 10
www.flickr.com/photos/julieb85/50366260903/
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