The Joker
Hilltoppers Lyrics
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My friends say Ive never seemed so gay
But if they only knew how much I cry for you
The laughter would surely fade away
The joker is always laughing
And so he's the gayest guy in town
He plays a winning part while memories crush his heart
I tried so hard to pretend dear
That losing you meant nothing to me
But 'til you're mine once again dear
Make believe is all my life will be
Ha-ha, ha-ha, ha-ha
The joker, though he seems happy
Because you have found that someone new
But somewhere deep inside beneath his strange disguise
The joker is crying over you
Oh-oh-oh-oh - o - o - oho
That losing you meant something to me
Oh-oh-oh-oh - o - o - oho
Make believe is all my life will be
Ha-ha, ha-ha, ha-ha
The Hilltoppers' song "The Joker" tells the story of a man who is dubbed as "the joker" by his friends because he always seems happy and is constantly laughing. However, the reality of his situation is quite different. He is deeply in love with someone who is no longer with him, and he cries for her despite his cheerful exterior. The "laughter" and "winning part" that the joker plays are merely a facade to cover up the pain of his broken heart.
The lyrics also describe how the joker tries to pretend that losing his beloved meant nothing to him, but his sorrow is still palpable. The only thing he can do is to make believe, wishing that one day he will be reunited with his love. The joker's laughter hides his pain, but he is crying inside over losing her to someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
The joker is what they call me
I am known as the joker, the one who always laughs and puts on a smile, but it's just a façade.
My friends say I've never seemed so gay
People see me as happy-go-lucky but they don't know the pain I carry inside.
But if they only knew how much I cry for you
I hide my tears that I shed for you, so no one thinks I am weak.
The laughter would surely fade away
People would stop seeing me as happy if they knew how much I hurt.
The joker is always laughing
I put on a happy face all the time, pretending that everything is perfectly fine in my life.
And so he's the gayest guy in town
Because of my cheerful attitude, everyone thinks I am the happiest person around.
He plays a winning part while memories crush his heart
I act like I am winning at life, but memories of you break my heart.
Yet he goes on laughing like a clown
Despite the pain, I continue to laugh and make a fool of myself because that's what I have to do to hide my sadness.
I tried so hard to pretend dear
I make every effort to pretend that losing you didn't matter to me.
That losing you meant nothing to me
I try to convince myself and others that losing you didn't hurt me.
But 'til you're mine once again dear
Until the day I can have you back in my life, I will keep pretending.
Make believe is all my life will be
My life will only be a make-believe world where I act happy, but deep down, I am in pain.
The joker, though he seems happy
Even though I seem happy, I am not.
Because you have found that someone new
The person I love has moved on, and I am not part of their life anymore.
But somewhere deep inside beneath his strange disguise
Despite the mask of happiness, there is a side of me that is sad and hurting.
The joker is crying over you
The joker, who seems like he's always happy, is actually shedding tears over the love he lost.
Oh-oh-oh-oh - o - o - oho
Repetitive chorus of the song.
That losing you meant something to me
I do care about you, and losing you hurts me more than I let on.
Make believe is all my life will be
I will continue to pretend that everything is okay and live in a make-believe world because that's the only way I know how to cope.
Ha-ha, ha-ha, ha-ha
Repetitive outro of the song.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BILLY MYLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marilyn Welton
One of the favorite songs of my youth. I have the sheet music to it, and I learn to play it as a teenager.
Santiago
Good song, love it
WendyKS93
I know that Billy Miles wrote and sang this wonderful song but I have always felt that the Hilltoppers truly had the most beautiful version of this great song. Always great music from this group.
lrh1966
Great version of this song, and I enjoy both this one, and the Billy Myles version. Thank you for posting this classic!!...Friends, Lloyd.
Kabal of the Bloody Spoon
Love this song soooo much
John Maxwell
Written by one hit wonder Billy Miles who charted with this song.
bojkbéret
Now this would've been great in "Joker."
les7422
Are there no videos of the Hilltoppers? I'd love to see one.
Cap'n Z
aged like gold lmfao
Johnnralph
Rip : Don McGuire (7 Oct 1931 - 7 Sept 2018) The last surviving member