On a whim, I decided to draw Mime signing. And, seeing as it somewhat fit his character, he’s not just singing any song, he’s singing ”Vesti la Giubba” from the opera Pagliaccio. Obviously his audience didn’t enjoy his rendition of the aria, though he’s pouring his heart out.

For those less familiar to the aria, here’s a translation of the lyrics (not word-for-word, but more the general message of the song).

”To perform, while I’m taken with madness?
I don’t know what I’m saying,
or what I’m doing!
Don’t feel like it? Force yourself!
Bah! You think you’re a man?
Ha hah hah ha! You’re a clown!

Put on the costume,
and paint your face white.
The people paid, they want to laugh.
And if Harlequin runs off with Columbina,
laugh, clown, and they’ll applaud.
Turn your spasms of pain into laughter,
and hide your sorrows in a smile. Ah!

Laugh, clown! For your love is ruined!
Laugh away the pain that poisons your heart.”

The Happy Tree Friends belong to whoever owns their copyright (Mondo, maybe), and ”Vesti la Giubba”, while public domain by now I believe, belongs to Ruggero Leoncavallo.