I’ve got a joke for every problem, A punchline for every pain, If life hands me a lemon, I’ll probably make a pun again. I can turn a little tragedy Into something people quote, I can make a room start laughing While I'm barely staying afloat. They say I’ve got a sense of humor— Well, I suppose that must be true. I’ve got jokes that need a warning label, And bad ones by the queue. I’ll take a serious conversation And give it one ridiculous twist, Because sometimes if you laugh at life, You can almost get away with it. **I laugh because I love to laugh. I laugh because it's good. I laugh because sometimes laughing Is the only thing I could. But when the room goes quiet, And there's nobody around, The comedian takes his makeup off And the tears come pouring down.** Oh, I'm funny when I'm hurting. That's my favorite little trick. I've become a real expert At pretending I’m not sick. I've got punchlines in my pockets, I've got sarcasm in reserve, I've got enough bad wordplay To make Shakespeare lose his nerve. I once tried writing serious poetry— It was a grave mistake. Then I realized the word “grave” Was probably all I'd need to make. See, there I go again, Making jokes when things get rough. I guess if laughter is a medicine, I've prescribed myself enough. **But when the laughter fades away, And the house becomes still, There's a part of me that aches That no punchline ever will. I wish I could keep laughing Until the loneliness was gone. I wish the night would understand Why I keep joking on.** Because I don't want pity. I don't want everyone to know. I'd rather make them laugh a little Than explain why I'm so low. So I'll crack another terrible joke, I'll grin and play the fool, I'll make a pun so painfully bad That silence sounds more cruel. And maybe that's my superpower— Or maybe it's my curse: I can make somebody else feel better While I'm secretly getting worse. I can turn my tears to punchlines, Turn my sorrow into rhyme, And somehow make the darkness laugh For just a little time. **I laugh because I love to laugh. God knows I need the sound. But sometimes when I'm all alone, There isn't anyone around. No audience to entertain, No reason to pretend, Just me and all the thoughts I hide When everybody's gone to bed.** So if you see me smiling, Don't assume that I'm okay. Sometimes the funniest man you know Has cried before the day. And if I make a stupid joke When everything goes wrong, Maybe that's just my way of saying, *"I'm still here. I'm still holding on."* **So laugh with me. Laugh hard. Laugh until we can't breathe. I'll bring the terrible puns— You bring whatever's left of me. And when the laughter finally ends And the night comes crashing through, I'll probably cry when I'm alone... Because that's what comedians do. They laugh for you— **and cry where nobody can see.**
