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.
Ah sadder than sad.
You're gone and I'm hurtin' 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.
Oh, I need you so.
I'm hurt and I want you to know.
But for others I put on a show.

Ooh, oh 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 sadness hid.
Smiling in the public eye
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
Really I'm sad
Hurtin' so bad