• Beehaw_Girl@beehaw.orgEnglish
      1·
      5 days ago

      Pagliacci: the tears of a clown. My first introduction to this was from lyrics of a song by Smokey Robinson in the 1960s or 1970s.

    • Chloé 🥕@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
      663·
      9 days ago

      it’s based on a joke from the watchmen, that got really popular online recently for some reason

      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.”

      • prowe45@piefed.socialEnglish
        75·
        9 days ago

        I mean, it was in Watchmen, but it certainly wasn’t from Watchmen. According to this thread, versions of the joke predate Watchmen by 100 years.

      • samus12345@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        11·
        9 days ago

        So Rorschach’s new version would be something like “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 Orville is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up.’ Man asks, ‘What about Pagliacci?’ Doctor says, ‘Pagiliacci? Could not name more suckass clown.’ Man is speechless. Doctor continues, ‘Just downright dogshit of a clown.’”