Smokey Robinson - The Tears of a Clown

[Intro]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah

[Verse 1]

Now if there's a smile on my face

It's only there trying to fool the public

But when it comes down to fooling you

Now, honey, that's quite a different subject

But don't let my glad expression

Give you the wrong impression

Really I'm sad (sad, sad, sad, sad)

Oh I'm sadder than sad (I'm hurt so bad)

You're gone, and I'm hurtin' so bad (I pretend to be glad)

Like a clown, I pretend to be glad (sad, sad, sad, sad)

[Chorus]

Now there's some sad things known to man

But ain't too much sadder than the tears of a clown

When there's no one around

Oh, yeah, baby

[Verse 2]

Now if I appear to be carefree

It's only to camouflage my sadness

In order to shield my pride I try

To cover this hurt with a show of gladness

But don't let my show convince you

That I've been happy since you

Decided to go (why did you go?)

Oh I need you so (I need you so)

I'm hurt and I want you to know (want you to know)

But for others I put on a show (it's just a show)

Ooh yeah

[Chorus]

Now there's some sad things known to man

But ain't too much sadder than the tears of a clown

When there's no one around

Oh yeah

[Bridge]

Just like Pagliacci did

I try to keep my sadness hid

Smiling in the public eye

But in my lonely room I cry the tears of a clown

When there's no one around

Oh yeah baby

[Outro]

Now if there's a smile on my face

Don't let my glad expression

Give you the wrong impression

Don't let this smile I wear

Make you think that I don't care

When really I'm sad, I'm hurting so bad

• Artist:Smokey Robinson
• Album:e It Happen (1967)