Pagliacci

Here I go laughing through the pain...
Tears fall and streak the clown white on my face.
All around me the sound of merriment...
But the tears have a bitter salty taste.

Laugh, clown despite the sadness you feel...
Dance to the dirge of the calliope.
No one wants to see a sad buffoon...
So dance away through your misery.

{I was your fool for a day...
The sun did set and you said "Go away."
Can I just stay for a while and play?
Turning cartwheels in your driveway.}

Balloon animals float up in the air...
Lions, tigers, zebras and bears.
I wish that I was also up there too...
Floating high without a fucking care

{Consider me an operatic tragedy...
Jovial despite the hurt in me.
Feels like everyone is laughing at me...
Instead of with me.}

The lights go off; the tents come down...
Popcorn and cotton candy are trampled in the dirt.
Turning cartwheels until the next town...
Grease makeup will always hide the hurt...