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, uh
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)
Look I'm hurt and I want you to know (want you to know)
For others I put on a show (it's just 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, uh

Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my surface hid
Hiding in the gloom I try
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
'Cause really I'm sad

Copyright: Royalty Network, SMV Schacht Musikverlage GmbH & Co. KG, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Writer(s): Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder, William Jr. Robinson