Laugh, clown, laugh (song)

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Laugh, clown, laugh! is the title of the German version of a slow waltz that Ted Fiorito composed in 1928 as a theme song for the American silent film Lach, Clown, lach ( Laugh Clown laugh ) by the director Herbert Brenon. The English text was written by Joe Young and Sam M. Lewis . The piece was published in 1928 by the American music publisher Jerome H. Remick & Co. New York - Detroit.

With the text quote Vesti la giubba and the twice mentioned name “Bajazzo” in the chorus, the song refers to Ruggiero Leoncavallo 's opera Pagliacci (The Bajazzos / Clowns), which was premiered in Milan in 1892 and which, as in the film, is about a deceived clown who nevertheless has to step in front of the paying audience to make them laugh with their jokes, while they themselves cry: “ Ridi, pagliaccio / Lache, Bajazzo” has almost become a household word.

In Germany the waltz song appeared with a text that the poignant lecture of the 'gallant chansonnier' Paul O'Montis had made popular. He was accompanied by a "whispering orchestra". The Odeon recording was made in June 1929.

“Fred Barny” is indicated on the labels as the author of the German text; behind it is the popular radio and record singer Franz Baumann . Baumann had already sung the title on record a year earlier with the accompaniment of the Efim Schachmeister Ensemble on Grammophon.

A highly dramatic version with his own text variants, which he declaimed rather than sung, was recorded by the Berlin actor and performing artist Karl Zander in 1929 for Clausophon.

The Dutch entertainer Willy Derby also sang a version of the song on record in 1929; Ferry van Delden wrote the Dutch text.

According to Paul Sauerlaender, the song was performed live in German cinemas during the screening of the film : “When the man sees the betrayal of his love in a mirror in the film“ Lach Clown Lach ”, a singer began the song next to the screen, accompanied by the orchestra after which the film received its title. "

German text

The two versions sung by Baumann and O'Montis differ in their wording in places: hence here in [...] the version by O'Montis.

  • Verses

(1)

Puppets fooled by Satan [by the devil]

Are children, are men and women [We are all men and women.]

And none of us are spared tears

Not even you, laughing clown!

The tear denies us the laughing world, [Comedy is everything only in this world]

So laugh when your luck shatters too:

(2)

Life and death are fate's commandments.

We fight in worry and need.

Satan's laughter often rings in our ears:

The clown plays a comedy for us!

His laughter alone makes you forget the pain.

Oh, give us, clown, sunshine ...

  • Refrain:

Does it hurt in the poor heart,

Laugh, clown, laugh!

Nobody asks about your hot pain

Laugh, clown, laugh!

Just hold your heart tight in your hands

You can only end up laughing as Bajazzo. [... just fade, end]

Just put on make-up, twist your limbs,

Laugh, clown, laugh!

Fight even the premonition of death

Laugh, clown, full of horror,

Just sing your vesti la giubba , [glitter and dance was your life]

Die too as Bajazzo

Laugh, clown, laugh!

Note edition

Laugh Clown Laugh. Song. strophic with chorus. piano and voice. ads on back cover for Remick Music Corp. floor. [4 ll. and title]. Copyr. 1928 by Jerome H. Remick & Co. New York and Detroit.

Audio documents

Laugh, clown, laugh! (Laugh, Clown, Laugh). Waltz (Ted Fiorito) Franz Baumann with Efim Schachmeister-Ensemble. Gramophone 21 669 (mx. 817 1/2 br-2), up. Berlin 1928

Laugh, clown, laugh! (Laugh, Clown, Laugh). Waltz (Ted Fiorito) dance orchestra Dajos Béla Odeon O-2774 (Be 7814), open. December 1928

Laugh, clown, laugh! (Laugh, Clown Laugh). Song Walz (Lewis Young Fiorito) Paul O'Montis “with Whispering Orchestra” on Odeon O-2884 b (Be 8278). Berlin, June 1929.

Laugh, clown, laugh! (Laugh, Clown, Laugh). Waltz (Ted Fiorito) Orchestra Fred Bird with vocals Luigi Bernauer . Homocord Electro 4-2822 (M 20 652)

Laugh, Clown, laugh (Laugh ', Clown, laugh'): Song-Waltz (Ted Fiorito - Fred Barny). Géza Komor dance orchestra with refraing singing. Tri-Ergon TE 5411 (Mat. 02033)

Laugh 'Clown, Laugh': song by Ted Fiorito. German text by Fred Barny. Lecture artist Karl Zander with orchestra accompaniment. Clausophon 5178 (Matr. 6328). 1929

Illustrations

  • Franz Baumann in the pocket album “Künstler am Rundfunk”, Verlag Rothgießer & Diesing Berlin, 1932
  • Paul O'Montis on “Odeon” advertising card
  • Autographed photo by Willy Derby

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ cf. List of winged words / L
  2. ↑ on the singer cf. Biography Paul O'Montis - cabaret artist and singer, author: Georg Biller / Formiggini
  3. ↑ Neither the Odeon nor the Grammophon label name the author of the German text. Fred Barny is only mentioned as the author on the label of the Tri-Ergon and the Clausophon.
  4. ↑ cf. Henry König , © February 18, 2016, and coverinfo.de “It's a long way back to my homeland (1931). German text: Fred Barny (Franz Baumann) ”. As “Fred Barny” Baumann also wrote the German text for the popular film song “Ramona” by Mabel Wayne (actually Wimpfheimer, * July 16, 1890 - † June 19, 1978, see todotango.com )
  5. ↑ cf. label Gr 21 669 (mx. 817 1/2 br-2), apply. Berlin 1928, ill. at radiomusaeum.org
  6. ↑ cf. Reproduction and text printing on youtube
  7. ↑ real Willem Frederik Christiaan Dieben (* The Hague, April 5, 1886 - † The Hague, April 9, 1944), Dutch singer of the interwar period, performed under the stage name Willy Derby and was one of the most popular artists in Holland.
  8. ↑ listen in het Nederlands on youtube Willy Derby - Lach Clown lach (Laugh clown laugh). Opgenomen in 1929 op het Parlophon / Beka label. Catalogus no. B 17 528, matrijs no. 63 509. Muziek Lewis, text Ferry van Delden. Met orkest begeleiding.
  9. ↑ Cornelis Johannes Theodorus van Delden (* Amsterdam, March 20, 1892 - ibid, November 9, 1965) was a Dutch lyricist. For him cf. nl.wiki ( in het Nederlands )
  10. ↑ Paul Sauerländer: Silent Film and Music, in: Issue 30 (January 5-26, 1967), quoted in. based on: Herbert Birett , sources on film history 1920 - now. A photo of Sauerlaender and part of his collection at DDB
  11. ↑ only included in the picture with pikeperch.
  12. ↑ Sheet music from the Levy Sheet Music Collection pictured at Johns Hopkins University
  13. ↑ to be heard at radiomusaeum.org
  14. ↑ listen on youtube
  15. ↑ listen on youtube