Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tears Of A Clown

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tears of a Clown: A Soulful Exploration of Hidden Pain

In the tapestry of American soul music, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles hold a place of undeniable prominence.

Led by the smooth and poignant vocals of Robinson himself, the group produced a string of timeless hits that continue to resonate deeply with listeners.

Among these gems, The Tears of a Clown stands out as a poignant and introspective ballad, a song that delves into the complexities of heartbreak with raw honesty and emotional depth.

Background

Released in 1967, The Tears of a Clown marked a turning point in the group’s career.

While known for their upbeat and joyous melodies, this song showcased their ability to navigate the darker corners of human experience.

The song soared to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, solidifying their place as not only masters of soulful celebration, but also chroniclers of the human condition.

The song’s narrative unfolds through the eyes of a heartbroken performer. Robinson’s vocals, imbued with a palpable sense of anguish, paint a picture of a man who presents a facade of joy on stage while battling inner turmoil.

The lyrics, co-written by Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Hank Cosby, capture the universality of heartbreak and the struggle to maintain composure despite the emotional devastation.

Video

Lyrics

🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
Now if there’s a smile on 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 different subject

But don’t let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
Really I’m sad, oh, I’m sadder than sad
You’re gone and I’m hurting so bad
Like a clown I appear to be glad (sad, sad, sad, sad)

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, mm
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 (why did you go?)
Oh, I need you so (I need you so)
I’m hurt and I want you to know (want you to know)
But for others, I put on a show, ooh, oh (it’s just a show)

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

Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my surface hid
Smiling in the public, I
But in my lonely room, I cry
The tears of a clown
When there’s no one around, oh, yeah, baby
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 think that I don’t care
When really, I’m sad
Hurtin’ so bad