Barry Poole (born December 18, 1964, in Marietta, Georgia) is a country mus… Read Full Bio ↴Barry Poole (born December 18, 1964, in Marietta, Georgia) is a country music singer, parody artist and entertainer best known by his stage name Cledus T. Judd (No Relation) (implying he is not related to The Judds) or often just Cledus T. Judd. Best known for parodies of popular country songs, Judd is sometimes called the "Weird Al" Yankovic of country music, and like Yankovic his albums are usually an equal mix of original comedy songs and parodies.

Funny Man
Cledus T. Judd Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was the class clown,
I kept them laughing out loud.
Known all over town for turning frowns upside down.
I guess it's just a gift that God blessed me with,
And I'm thankful everyday that he made me this way.
I may not always feel like putting on a show,
But when I hear these words I Just can't say no.

Chorus
Make me laugh Funnyman,
No one can do it like you can.
I sure would like to smile,
Forget my troubles for awhile.
With a joke you know how to make the sun shine though the clouds.
If it's no to much to ask,
Make me laugh Funnyman.

Now I've made it my life to play the fool every night.
I must have been a million miles seen at least that many smiles.
And it's a dream come true doing what I love to do.
And if it ended tonight I've had the time of my life.
Here's to all the friends and fans I've made along the way,
I know I wouldn't be here if I hadn't heard you say.....
-repeat chorus-

Sometimes I hate to leave the stage.
Cause then the laughter fades away.
And then the crowd goes home,
And leaves me all alone.

And I look in the mirror and one more time I say.....
-repeat chorus-

Overall Meaning

In Cledus T. Judd's song "Funny Man," the lyrics tell a story of a man who has always been known as the class clown, entertaining people and making them laugh. He thanks God for the gift of making others happy and acknowledges that although he may not always feel like performing, he can't resist the urge to make people laugh when asked. The chorus repeats the phrase "Make me laugh, Funnyman" as the man reflects on his career as a comedian and how he has touched the lives of his fans and friends. He talks about the joy he feels when he is on stage and how he wishes to continue bringing laughter and happiness to others.

The song captures the essence of what it means to be a comedian and how it feels to be able to make people laugh. The lyrics show that there is a certain responsibility that comes with making others happy, as the Funnyman reflects on how he must always be "on" and ready to perform. In a sense, the song is a tribute to all the comedians out there who have the courage to stand up and make people laugh, no matter what.

Line by Line Meaning

I was the class clown,
I was known for making everyone laugh during class.

I kept them laughing out loud.
I made people laugh loudly and frequently.

Known all over town for turning frowns upside down.
My reputation for making people happy extends throughout the town.

I guess it's just a gift that God blessed me with,
I believe my ability to make people laugh is a gift from God.

And I'm thankful everyday that he made me this way.
I am grateful every day for the gift of humor that I possess.

I may not always feel like putting on a show,
Sometimes I don't feel like entertaining others.

But when I hear these words I Just can't say no.
When someone asks me to make them laugh, I find it hard to refuse.

Make me laugh Funnyman,
Please use your humor to make me laugh, Funnyman.

No one can do it like you can.
No one has the same ability to make me laugh as you do.

I sure would like to smile,
I would really appreciate it if you could make me smile.

Forget my troubles for awhile.
I want to forget about my problems and have a good time.

With a joke you know how to make the sun shine though the clouds.
Your humor has the ability to bring happiness even in difficult times.

If it's no to much to ask,
If it's not too much trouble,

Now I've made it my life to play the fool every night.
I have decided to make a career out of entertaining people with my humor.

I must have been a million miles seen at least that many smiles.
I have traveled a lot and brought joy to many people along the way.

And it's a dream come true doing what I love to do.
I feel incredibly lucky to be able to pursue my passion for making people laugh.

And if it ended tonight I've had the time of my life.
Even if my career ended tonight, I would still be grateful for all the amazing experiences I've had.

Here's to all the friends and fans I've made along the way,
I am thankful for all the people I've met and the fans I've gained throughout my career.

I know I wouldn't be here if I hadn't heard you say.....
I recognize that I owe my success to the support of others.

Sometimes I hate to leave the stage.
Sometimes I don't want to stop entertaining people.

Cause then the laughter fades away.
Once I leave the stage, the sound of laughter stops.

And then the crowd goes home,
After the performance, the audience members leave.

And leaves me all alone.
I am left by myself without the energy of the crowd around me.

And I look in the mirror and one more time I say.....
I reflect on my performance and remind myself of the joy I brought to others.

Contributed by Samantha L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS