Tears of a Clown
The English Beat Lyrics


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Say oh yeah baby baby
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
Well, now honey that's quite a different subject

So don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
'Cause really I'm sad (so sad sad)
Oh I'm sadder than sad (so sad sad)
Look I'm hurt and I want you so bad (so sad sad)
Like a clown I appear to be glad

Ooh yeah
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

Say oh yeah baby baby baby
Oh yeah baby baby baby

Now if I appear to be carefree
It's only to camouflage my sadness
And honey to shield my pride I try
To cover this hurt with a show of gladness
So don't let my show convince you
That I've been happy since you decided to go
Oh I need you so
Look I'm hurt and I want you to know
Just for others I put on a show

Ooh yeah
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
So just like Pagliacci did
I'm gonna keep my surface hid
Hiding in my room I try
But in this lonely room I cry
The tears of a clown
When there's no one around

Now if there's a smile on my face
Don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
Don't let this smile I wear
Make you feel that I don't care
The tears of a clown (tears of a clown)
The tears of a clown (tears of a clown, tears of a clown)
I'm going down de town




I'm going downtown
Tears of a clown

Overall Meaning

The Tears of a Clown by The English Beat is a heart-wrenching song that touches the theme of hiding one's true emotions behind a façade of happiness. The lyrics reflect the struggle of a man who is trying to cope up with the pain of a failed relationship by covering it with a fake smile, but in reality, he is heartbroken and in need of love. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer directly addresses the listener, inviting them to share in his emotions.


The singer uses a clown as a metaphor for himself to convey his emotional turmoil. The idea of the clown being sad behind his makeup and painted smile is a powerful image that conveys the emotional conflict of the song. The chorus, "The tears of a clown when there's no one around", brings out the loneliness that the singer feels when he is forced to face his true feelings.


The Tears of a Clown has a universal theme that resonates with people of any age, gender, or race. At its core, it is a song about the human struggle to hide one's true emotions and the consequences of doing so. It is a powerful reminder that it's okay to be vulnerable and to seek help when struggling emotionally.


Line by Line Meaning

Say oh yeah baby baby
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm


Now if there's a smile on my face
My smile is a facade to please everyone else


It's only there tryin' to fool the public
I am trying to appear happy to others


But when it comes down to foolin' you
But I can't deceive you


Well, now honey that's quite a different subject
It's different when it comes to you, my love


So don't let my glad expression
Don't be misled by my smile


Give you the wrong impression
It doesn't represent my true feelings


'Cause really I'm sad (so sad sad)
I'm truly feeling sad inside


Oh I'm sadder than sad (so sad sad)
My sadness goes beyond just being sad


Look I'm hurt and I want you so bad (so sad sad)
I'm in emotional pain and miss you deeply


Like a clown I appear to be glad
I am hiding my emotions like a clown hides behind a persona


There's some sad things known to man
There are many sad things in the world


But ain't too much sadder than
But nothing compares to


The tears of a clown
The sadness of hiding behind a facade


When there's no one around
When I'm alone with my thoughts


Now if I appear to be carefree
If I look carefree on the outside


It's only to camouflage my sadness
It's just a cover-up for my true emotions


And honey to shield my pride I try
To protect my reputation, I try


To cover this hurt with a show of gladness
To mask my pain with a fake smile


So don't let my show convince you
Don't be fooled by my act


That I've been happy since you decided to go
That I've been happy since you left me


Oh I need you so
I miss you so much


Look I'm hurt and I want you to know
I'm in pain and I want you to understand


Just for others I put on a show
I perform for others, but it's not for myself


So just like Pagliacci did
Like the character Pagliacci, who hides behind a false persona on stage


I'm gonna keep my surface hid
I'll continue to hide my true emotions


Hiding in my room I try
Alone in my room, I attempt


But in this lonely room I cry
But in solitude, I cry tears of sadness


The tears of a clown
Hiding emotions behind a mask


When there's no one around
When no one is there to see the truth


Now if there's a smile on my face
If I'm smiling outwardly


Don't let my glad expression
Don't be fooled by my smile


Give you the wrong impression
It doesn't show my true feelings


Don't let this smile I wear
Don't be misled by my grin


Make you feel that I don't care
It doesn't mean that I don't have feelings


The tears of a clown (tears of a clown)
The act of hiding behind a mask


The tears of a clown (tears of a clown, tears of a clown)
The sadness of pretending to be happy


I'm going down de town
I'm heading into the city


I'm going downtown
I'm going to the heart of the city


Tears of a clown
Sorrow hidden behind a façade




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: William Jr. Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@captmac5627

Dear Roger, you're in that place where we all will go...I'm so glad you got there mate, coz I think it's good!
A life in music and a bit of fame were what you dreamed of when we joined Archbishop Williams Secondary School in 1974 at the age of 11 years old. And (unlike most of us "sensible" one) you actually did it - you "made" it my friend into the land of fame! So, fuckin' well done to you! I take my hat off because you always knew what you wanted and went for it.


I'm afraid didn't follow your musical career! I came across this sad news by chance tonight while on the net and and listening to a bit of music from "back in the day" and I saw the post. I was shocked!! "Fuck me" doesn't cut it...Rankin Roger dead????? Nah..can't be true!
Roger, we were not close at school, never what you'd call "friends" but there was a mutual respect. Let's be frank Roger, not many kids at Archie's liked you a lot coz you were too fuckin loud and too hollywood, as in "I'm gonna make" it so fuck you all!!
What were we meant to think?
Archie's was a pretty quiet school, on the verge of that 1970's disruption, and you were a black kid with a huge fucking chip on your shoulder (I went to you house one time and to some extent that's ok I understand). But, man just cos you were inch or so taller than most you thought you could bully others, especially cos you hung around with Errol "the chest" and tall Steve G who were the only two other black kids. It was all BS!
Whatever! The 70s were a defining time for blacks and for Irish in England which was a country unaccepting to both groups ...so both became natural fighters, ...I guess!
Time goes on...
You never picked on me, even though you picked on others! I don't know why. I remember a time at the vending machine in C block when I was buying a cup of chocolate, you looked at me and made as if to karate kick it out of my hand and you didn't get it but you made me spill it. We squared up. You backed off. I don't know why but you put more coins in the machine and bought me another one. You probably would have kicked my ass! After that, for some reason, you calmed down a bit.
You always loved you're music Roger, I'll give you that, always singing in the bike sheds at break for a smoke, always dancing around and acting like a knob. We were all 16. We were all knobs! And I think you were having a hard time out of school.
Last time I saw you was years ago. I was on a bus going though through my "old area" Small Heath in Birmingham, Engalnd and I was upstairs and saw you. I thought, "Fuck that's Roger" and looked at you and you did a double take and waived at me. I was really happy that you'd recognised me from such a momentary glance. You looked pretty cool, had a nice hat, pretty happy!
God Bless You, Roger! Son of a bitch, you are a very rare hero who, in spite of the odds, has a dream and goes for it. I take my hat off! Everybody go for their dream!



All comments from YouTube:

@adamgroppman8306

This is one of those cases of a song where the original version (Smokey) was incredible and impactful and the famous cover version (English Beat) was equally incredible and impactful and totally unique and different from the original. This is part of the soundtrack of the 80's, my high school years! 

@racketman2u

well put, Adam!

@erossinema8797

I know right? This piece is amazing!

@greatestytcommentator

Even my Mum and Dad let us have it on in the car!
Mudt have been good.

@victorevanssr.5034

Right there with you my friend

@TheEleatic

If the intention and the spirit is pure, then the result is beauty.

@paulselkirk2345

This song is 60 years old and sounds as good as ever, I always loved this one 🤩😊😎🤗

@RYx222

This version is 43 years old

@paulselkirk2345

Sorry I thought it was

@RYx222

@@paulselkirk2345 the original is 56 years odl

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