Actually Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.  According to his autobiography,
he had been trying to leave the group for years - and then Motown reissued
this three-year-old LP track, it became a worldwide hit, and his plan for
a solo career was deferred for another two years.

So did somebody want the chords or something?

               C5   F5      Bb5
If there's a smile on my face
 F5          C5              F5        Bb5     F5
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
Don't let my glad expression give you the wrong impression
          C5         F5    Bb5   C5
Baby I'm sad (sad, sad, sad, sad)
So much sadder than sad (sad, sad, sad, sad)
Like a clown I appear to be glad (sad, sad, sad, sad)
You're gone and I'm hurtin' so bad (sad, sad, sad, sad)
                  G5                 E5
Now there's some sad things known to man
          A5             F5
But ain't too much sadder than
                  C5
The tears of a clown
When there's noone around

From: Harlan L Thompson 

THE TEARS OF A CLOWN- Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

                  D5        C5   G5   C5
Now if there's a smile on my face
            D5               C5        G5
It's only there trying to fool the public
     C5        D5             C5      G5
But when it comes down to fooling you
      C5     D5               C5         G5    C5 (etc...)
Now honey that's quite a different subject

But don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
Cos really I'm sad, Oh I'm sadder than sad
Well I'm hurt and I want you so bad
Like a clown I appear to be glad  ooh yeah

CHORUS:
                   A5                  F#5
Well they're some sad things known to man
           B5               G5
But ain't too much sadder than
                D5 C5 G5              C5       D5  C5  G5
The tears of a clown when there's noone around
C5         D5      C5 G5  C5        D5     C5  G5 C5
Oh yeah, baby baby,  oh yeah 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
But don't let my show convince you
That I've been happy since you
Cos I need to go, oh I need you so
Look I'm hurt and I want you to know
For others I put on a show ...CHORUS

Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my surface hid
Smiling in the crowd I try
But in a lonely room I cry
The tears of a clown
When there's noone around, oh yeah, baby 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
Cos really I'm sad...
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