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Now if there's a smile upon 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.
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,
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 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 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.
Oh, yeah baby!
Now, if there's a smile on my face
Don't let my glad expression
Give you a wrong impression.
Don't let this smile I wear
Make you think that I don't care
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.
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.
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,
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 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 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.
Oh, yeah baby!
Now, if there's a smile on my face
Don't let my glad expression
Give you a wrong impression.
Don't let this smile I wear
Make you think that I don't care
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.
Lyrics submitted by super15matrix
Track duration: 03:05
"The Tears of a Clown" as written by Stevie/robinson Wonder
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Among the many things I love about this record:
--the bassoon countermelody
--the fact that this piece of music was a surprise gift from Stevie Wonder to Smokey Robinson at the 1966 Motown Christmas party
--the way Smokey saves the clown reference until the very end of the first verse
--the fact that Pagliacci is in this song at all
--the incredibly subtle timing of the words in the second verse
--the way the drummers interact
It's one of the very very best Motown ever produced, and that's saying a lot. Wow!
It's such an obvious reference, but Pagliacci was a bit more tragic...
"everytime i am asked 'how i am doing?' the generic and ubiquitous response is always 'fine'. but i am never really fine"
Is this true, you are never really fine? I feel kind of sad for you guy! Is there anything I can do to help you out? your comment just spoke to me and I didn't want to let it pass. It's nice though that you feel enough for others not to want to burden them by revealing your true state and just replying "fine" instead. I suppose we all do this! But sometimes I really am fine, and good, or even great! Is it true you are never feeling good?
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.