“I try to keep my sadness hid
Smiling in the public eye
But in my lonely room I cry
The tears of a clown…”

“Tears of a Clown” was recorded by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in 1967 on their album Make It Happen and was re-released in the U.K. as a single in 1970.  After reaching Number 1 in the U.K., the song was released in the U.S. as a single and rose to Number 1 on U.S. charts as well.

Written by Hank Cosby, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder, the songs speaks of trying to hide one’s sadness and hurt behind empty smiles.  “Tears of a Clown” became an international multi-million best seller.  Its success led Smokey Robinson, who was planning to leave The Miracles, to stay with the group another two years.

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 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’ve tried
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

Oh, there’s some sad things known to man
But there 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

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/smokeyrobinsonthemiracles/thetearsofaclown.html

Thanks to This Thing Called Life One Word At a Time for hosting this challenge every week. It’s so much fun!