Lyrics The Tears of a Clown (Live At The Roxy, West Hollywood, CA/1978) - Smokey Robinson

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 diff'rent subject.

Don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
Really I'm sad
Oh sadder than sad;
You're gone and I'm hurting so bad
Like a clown I pretend to be glad.

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.
Just like pagliaccic 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
Now if there's a smile upon my face
Don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression

Don't let the smile I wear
Make you think I don't care.
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.

Oh I need you so.
I'm hurt and I want you to know
But for others
I put on a show.

Now there's some...