Now if there's a smile on my face,
it's only there tryin' to fool the public,
but when it comes down to foolin' 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.
I'm sadder than sad.
You're gone and I'm hurtin' so bad.
Like a clown I pretend to be glad.

(chorus)
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.

Now if I appear to be carefree,
it's only to camouflage my sadness.
In order to keep my pride I try
to cover the 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.

(chorus)

Just like Pagliacci did,
I try to keep my sadness hid.
And I'm smilin' in the public eye
But in my lonely room I cry
the tears of a clown
when there's no one around