Every night step on stage
And do my best to engage
Folks that won't look me in the eye
Every night I lay awake
And think about the things I say
Wonder if they heard my best line
Sometimes I think I have it made
And the audience has stayed
To hear me out and hear my songs
But most times to no surprise
The empty look behind their eyes
Sells me out and tells me I was wrong
And that is why, even us happy clowns cry
All I wanna do is make em laugh
But my heart slowly breaks in half
As another song goes unheard
I do best to make 'em smile
They get and inch for mile
And take a piece of me with every turn
Another bar, another town,
Another drink I hurry down
It's gettin' harder now to see the light.
Another 13 hours to go.
To play another empty show
Hopin' I can pay the band tonight
And that is why, even us happy clowns cry
Even on the better nights,
When the bar is full and band is tight
And the people are dancing, I'm feelin' proud
All it takes is a memory
To come chasin' after me
To make you feel alone in the crowd
I wonder how my sweethearts been
And she wonder if I'm behavin'
Or did I finally wind up in jail
I know I won't be gone that long
And she'll be fine all on her own
So I paint on my smile. pour out my heart.
Pack up my gear and hit the trail
And that is why, even us happy clowns cry