Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
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, oh, I'm sadder than sad
You're gone and I'm hurting so bad
Like a clown I appear to be glad (sad, sad, sad, sad)

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, mm
Oh, yeah, baby

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, ooh, oh (it's just a show)

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

Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my surface hid
Smiling in the public, I
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 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
Hurtin' so bad


Lyrics submitted by super15matrix

The Tears of a Clown Lyrics as written by Stevie Wonder William Jr. Robinson

Lyrics © SMV Schacht Musikverlage GmbH & Co. KG, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network

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The Tears Of A Clown song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    "Now there's some sad things known to man but ain't too much sadder than the tears of a clown"

    Sing it, Smokey! This is such a great song, it's pretty obvious (at least to me) that it's about a guy whose girl left him and he's still so sad about it. The 'clown' act is to hide his feelings.

    ToroTrashon August 30, 2002   Link

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