[Intro: Smokey Robinson]
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah, oh yeah
Sing, Sheryl

[Verse 1: Sheryl Crow]
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
Now honey, that's quite a different subject
But don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression

[Pre-Chorus: Smokey Robinson & Sheryl Crow]
Really I'm sad (Sad, sad, sad, sad)
Oh, I'm sadder than sad
You're gone and I'm hurtin' so bad
Like a clown I pretend to be glad
(Sad, sad, sad, sad) Baby, baby

[Chorus: Smokey Robinson & Sheryl Crow]
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

[Post-Chorus: Sheryl Crow & Smokey Robinson]
Ooh-hoo
(Oh yeah, yeah, yeah) Ooh-hoo
[Verse 2: Smokey Robinson]
Now if I appear to be carefree
It's only to camouflage my sadness
In order to shield my pride I try
To cover the hurt with a show of gladness

[Pre-Chorus: Smokey Robinson & Sheryl Crow]
Don't let my show convince you
Baby, that I've been happy since you decided to go
I need you so
Said I'm hurt and I want you to know
But for others I put on a show
Well, well, well, well

[Chorus: Smokey Robinson & Sheryl Crow]
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

[Post-Chorus: Sheryl Crow & Smokey Robinson]
Oh yeah, yeah (Ooh)
Oh yeah (Ooh-hoo)
Ooh-hoo (Ooh-hoo-hoo)
Ooh-hoo
Tears of a clown
[Outro: Smokey Robinson & Sheryl Crow]
Just like Pagliacci did (The great pretender)
I try to keep my sadness hid
Smiling in the public eye (The great pretender)
In my lonely room I cry
Tears of a clown
When there's no one around
Yeah, yeah, tears of a clown (Oh baby)
When there's no one around (Yeah, yeah)
(Tears of a clown)
Don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
(Tears of a clown)
Don't let this smile I wear
(Tears of a clown)
Make you think that I don't care
(Tears of a clown)