The Tears of a Clown
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
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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 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, 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
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Written by: William Jr. Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Song Credit"The Tears of a Clown" was written by Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Hank Cosby.
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Initial ReleaseOriginally, the song was released in 1967 on the album 'Make it Happen' by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
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Chart PerformanceThe song didn't become a hit until it was released as a single in 1970 where it shot up to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the R&B Singles chart in the United States.
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UK SuccessBesides its success in the US, the song also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart, making it Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' biggest hit.
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Intent of ReleaseThe song was released as a single in 1970 to maintain the group’s career momentum while they worked on their next album.
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Stevie Wonder's ContributionStevie Wonder initially composed the music for the song, and Smokey Robinson added the lyrics to it later.
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Influenced by Circus ThemeThe melody of the song is inspired by a circus theme, to which Robinson added touching lyrics about a man who appears happy on the outside but is sad on the inside.
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Popularity"The Tears of a Clown" is considered one of the defining songs of Motown and has been covered by many artists, including English ska band The Beat in 1979.
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Robinson's DepartureThe success of the song led to a delay in Smokey Robinson's departure from The Miracles, which he announced in 1968 but didn't follow through until 1972.
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AwardsIt was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002, an honor reserved for recordings of "lasting qualitative or historical significance."
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RereleaseIn 2002, a rerecorded version by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles was released on their album, "20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles."
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Film FeaturesThe song has also been featured in several films and television shows such as Platoon, The Royal Tenenbaums and Pose.
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CertificationAs of June 2020, the song's original version has earned an RIAA gold certification for selling over 500,000 digital copies.
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Citation
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"The Tears of a Clown Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6693331/Smokey+Robinson+%26+the+Miracles/The+Tears+of+a+Clown>.
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