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 hurt so bad
Like a clown I appear to be glad

Now they're 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
And honey 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
Cause I need to go, oh I need you so
I'm hurt and I want you to know
For others I put on a show

ooh, they're 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 crowd I try
But in a 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