The Show Must Go On
Moulin Rouge [Original Soundtrack] Lyrics
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Another hero, another mindless crime
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime
On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?
Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance
Another heartache, another failed romance
On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?
The show must go on
Outside the dawn is breaking
On the stage that holds our final destiny
The show must go on
The show must go on
Satine
Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking
But my smile still stays on
All
The show must go on
The show must go on
Satine
I'll top the bill
I'll overkill
I have to find the will
To carry on with the...
All
On with the...
On with the show!
The show must go on
The Show Must Go On from Moulin Rouge [Original Soundtrack] is a song that speaks to the human spirit and its determination to carry on even in the face of adversity. The first half of the song is sung by Zidler, the owner of the Moulin Rouge, and it speaks to the senseless acts of heroism and love that people go through, all while being a part of a never-ending, unpredictable show. Zidler expresses the uncertainty of life and asks if anyone knows what they are living for. He concludes that whatever life brings, he will leave it up to chance.
The second half of the song is sung by Satine, the lead actress at the Moulin Rouge. She confesses that inside her heart is breaking, and her makeup may be flaking, but her smile stays on. She knows that the show must go on and tops the bill with an overkill, knowing that she has to find the strength and will to continue on with the show. The entire cast then declares together that the show must go on and continues to perform with passion and resilience.
The lyrics of The Show Must Go On mirror the themes of the Moulin Rouge movie, which explores the themes of love, heartbreak, and resilience. The song ultimately shows how the show cannot be stopped, and no matter what life brings, it is crucial to keep performing and carry on with the show.
Line by Line Meaning
Another hero, another mindless crime
We see another hero who has committed a meaningless crime, which is happening behind the curtains in the show.
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime
The crime is behind the curtain, in the pantomime show.
On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?
We are living in a chaotic world where nothing is certain, and we do not know the purpose of life.
Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance
I do not want to take any responsibility for what might happen and prefer to leave everything to luck.
Another heartache, another failed romance
There is yet another heartbreak, and someone has failed in love, which is common in our lives.
On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?
We are still not sure about the purpose of life and keep repeating the question 'what are we living for?'
The show must go on
Despite all the chaos and uncertainties, the show must go on.
The show must go on
The show is of utmost importance, and it has to continue no matter what.
Outside the dawn is breaking
The dawn is breaking outside, indicating that a new day has begun.
On the stage that holds our final destiny
The stage on which we perform holds the key to our success or failure, and maybe even destiny.
The show must go on
Again emphasizing the importance of the show, even in the face of adversity.
The show must go on
Reinforcing the fact that no matter what happens, the show has to go on.
Inside my heart is breaking
Even though everything is falling apart, Satine's heart is breaking.
My make-up may be flaking
Satine's makeup may be failing to conceal how she really feels.
But my smile still stays on
Despite everything, Satine continues to put on a brave face and smile.
I'll top the bill
Satine is determined to be the star of the show and give her best performance.
I'll overkill
She is willing to overdo things, give more than her best, to ensure the show is a success.
I have to find the will
Satine needs to find the willpower to keep going despite everything going on around her.
To carry on with the...
To keep going, to not give up.
On with the...
The show must continue, and we need to carry on.
On with the show!
The same message from the beginning, the show must go on, and we need to continue with it despite everything.
Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johnnyfive4436
The guy who plays Ziddler is amazing in this movie. He doesn't get talked enough. You can tell that he is hurting by this. He knows Satine loves Christian and he wants her happy. She is like a daughter to him. You can tell he has regret in his face and he almost backs out of it but then realizes it has to happen. Such a great performance and scene
@orlandolee4438
Jim Broadbent is his name also I have this headcanon that Satine was an orphan and Zidler adopted her my proof is the bit where Satine tells Harold "All my life you told me I was only worth what Men paid me!"
@stijnvercruysse1267
Dude, that's mister Gruber from Paddington or professor Slughorn from Harry Potter.
For me it will always be Harold Zidler however!
@grainnecarr8564
And Bridget jones dad 😁
@je8607
Right?! He’s an amazing actor. He won an Oscar this same year for Iris and concluded his victory speech with “Good luck Moulin Rouge”
@catfae5033
He has a beautiful strong voice he’s one of the Thesps and is professor slughorn in Harry Potter he’s a well known stage and screen actor in uk he’s Jim broardbent
@TheEpona92
Watching this scene for the first time...words cannot express what I felt.
@user-qq2wf3pe5i
after all this time, this scene still gives me goosebumps.
@bionicbladderboo
I completely agree. So powerful and so heartbreaking. Chills through the whole song 😭😭
@bridgetbosserman1474
Sameeeeee