As recorded by Spike Jones Lyrics by Eddie Maxwell from Pagliacci by Leoncavallo
Copyright 1953 Lindley Music Publishing Co.
When we wuz in the city we wuz wond'rin' where to go. A sign spelled out PAL-YAT-CHEE up in lights above a show. We thought 'twould be a Western till the stage lit up with lights, An' ninety seven people sung without a horse in sight. We couldn't understand 'em 'cause they spoke a foreign tongue, But we can give you some i-dee of what we think they sung:
"Ridi, Pagliaccio, Sul tuo amore'in fronto"
All at once there's a fat guy in a clown suit. Ain't Haller-ween, that's for shore. Then this here feller, this Punchy Neller, Begins to beller -- Like we all was deef.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
That was PAL-YAT-CHEE an' he sung:
Invest in a tuba an' somthin' or other 'bout Cuba He sung about a lady who weighed two hundred and eighty. When she takes a powder he just starts chirpin' louder And he don't do a gol-durn thing 'cept to stand up there an' sing.
When we listen to PAL-YAT-CHEE we get itchy an' scratchy. This shore is top corn so we go and buy some popcorn. We hate to go back but we can't git our dough back. There ain't no use complainin' 'cause outside it's a-rainin'.
(orchestra bridge)
Seven hours later we're still in the dern theater, Takin' turns at nappin', a-waitin' for somethin' to happen. PAL-YAT-CHEE he ain't hurryin' but the folks on stage are flurryin' And it sounds like Kat-chee-tur-ry-in's Neighbor Dance.
When ol' PAL-YAT-CHEE finds the guy he's seekin' Cheek-to-cheekin' with his wife he grabs a knife And stabs the louse who stole his spouse An' then he stabs the lady and himself. Ain't very sanitary.
They all collapse but ol' PAL-YAT-CHEE sets up Then he gets up, sings "I'm dyin', I am dyin', I am dyin'." We start cryin' 'Cause to tell the truth we're dyin' too.
As the footlights fade out we see PAL-YAT-CHEE laid out But the dagger never caused it. PAL-YAT-CHEE was plumb exhausted.
(RCA version adds:) "Ridi, Pagliaccio, Sul tuo amore'in <belch>"