Smokey Robinon and the Miracles - The Tears Of A Clown

First performance: 09/07/1988

Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song 2 times ( including soundcheck ) and 9 times as a snippet:
 
 
1997-03-08 Tradewinds, Sea Bright, NJ 
   
 
With The Wallflowers. Bruce was present for the soundcheck, which included the under- mentioned numbers, and is reported to be very prominent on them. Jon Bon Jovi also joins on "Bring It On Home To Me". Only known performances of "God Don't Make Lonely Girls", "Brand New Cadillac", and "Bring It On Home To Me". 
 
Soundcheck:
 
Show:
 
 
Three and one half hours of total, all out Christmas spirit - great show. The South Community Choir Of Asbury Park returns for two songs, as does Garland Jeffreys. Bruce Hornsby does his things again, and to top it off, Elvis Costello and Bruce duet on "Alison", including "Tracks Of My Tears" and "Tears Of A Clown".Nils Lofgren does "Shine Silently" . Costello and Jon Landau join for "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". Nils Lofgren does the solo acoustic "Here Comes The Sun", because "Bobby Bandiera is out there making a living somewhere."
 
 
  •  Snippet
during TUNNEL OF LOVE

2001-12-08 Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ
1988-09-23 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA
1988-07-30 Weserstadion, Bremen, West Germany
1988-07-22 Waldbühne, West Berlin, West Germany
1988-07-17 Olympia-Reitstadion Riem, Munich, West Germany
1988-07-14 St. Jakob Stadion, Basel, Switzerland
1988-07-12 Waldstadion, Frankfurt, West Germany
1988-07-10 Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England
1988-07-09 Bramall Lane, Sheffield, England
 

Songinfo

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

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 they're some sad things known to man
But ain't too much sadder than
The tears of a clown when there's no one around, uh
Oh yeah, 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
'Cause I had to go (why did you go), oh I need you so (I need you so)
Look I'm hurt and I want you to know (want you to know)
For others I put on a show (it's just a show)
Now they're some sad things known to man
But ain't too much sadder than
The tears of a clown when there's no one around, uh
Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my surface hid
Smiling in the crowd I try
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
'Cause really I'm sad