Songwriter: Henry “Hank” Cosby Smokey Robinson Stevie Wonder
Producer: Richard Perry
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 sadnеss
In order to shield my pride
I try to covеr 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 sadnеss
In order to shield my pride
I try to covеr 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