[Intro – Music box, whispered] Come closer, little darling. I want to see you smile. [Verse 1] I painted on a happy face, And took my place upon the stage. The children laughed, the parents clapped, While something hungry in me snapped. I learned to juggle, learned to dance, To hide my eyes and steal a glance. For underneath this painted skin, There's something I can't keep within. [Chorus] Smile for the clown, don't look away, The show must go on till the end of the day. Smile for the clown, don't make a sound, Nobody hears you when the lights go down. Laugh, little darling, laugh for me, The happiest face is the one you can't see. Smile for the clown, the music plays, And nobody leaves till the end of the show today. [Verse 2] My little red nose is cold as ice, My painted grin is stitched on twice. My shoes go squeaking down the hall, And I hear your footsteps against the wall. I tell a joke, you start to cry, I tilt my head and wonder why. The music stops, the curtains close, But something moves beneath my clothes. [Chorus] Smile for the clown, don't look away, The show must go on till the end of the day. Smile for the clown, don't make a sound, Nobody hears you when the lights go down. [Bridge – Piano slows, spoken] They said I was funny. They said I was strange. They told me to smile… So I never changed. [Final Chorus – Frantic] Smile for the clown! The lights are out! Smile for the clown! Don't scream, don't shout! The band plays on, the curtains fall, And there's no audience left at all. Smile for the clown… [Outro – Whispered, followed by laughter] You're my favourite. [End – Detuned music box abruptly stops]
