King of the Clowns
Neil Sedaka Lyrics

Here I come, the king of clowns
I am putting on a facade of happiness and humor, but deep down I am sad and lonely.

As I hide behind this smile and paint the town
I use humor and laughter to mask my pain and present a happy persona to the world.

Though I cry since you're gone
I feel deep sadness due to my lover leaving me.

You'll never know because the show must go on
Despite my pain, I will continue to put on a performance of happiness and laughter.

I pretend but you can't tell
I try to hide my emotions from others and put on a convincing act.

With my broken heart I play my part so well
Despite my pain, I am able to convincingly play the role of the happy clown.

Step aside, here I come, the king of clowns
I am ready to put on my clown act and make others laugh, regardless of my own emotional turmoil.

As I hide the lonely teardrops that come down
I try to conceal my sadness from others as I continue to perform.

I make believe with a smile
I pretend to be happy and carefree.

But the king of clowns is crying all the while
Despite my performance, I am still deeply sad and in pain.

There are tears (there are tears) you'll never see (never see)
Even though I am crying inside, I am able to keep my emotions hidden from others.

No you'll never see my tears and pity me (pity me)
I do not want others to feel sorry for me or see me as weak, so I hide my sadness.

Though I'm hurt, still I'm proud
Despite my heartbreak, I maintain a sense of dignity and strength.

Always laughing as I walk among the crowd
I continue my performance of happiness and humor even when I am in public and surrounded by other people.

Tra-la-la-la-la-la-li-lo
Repetition of nonsensical syllables, possibly to further emphasize the clown-like persona and showcase the absurdity of the situation.

Here comes the king of clowns (fade)
The song ends with a final reminder of the persona being presented and the emotional pain being hidden behind it.