I smile, shake my head and say it's nothing
brushing off another compliment
why am I always down on myself you ask?
baby it pays the rent
I'm always ready with a joke at my expense
everyone loves a clown
so I'm immunized but I wonder sometimes
just who's keeping who down

they can't cut me down when I'm on my back
won't let them see me crack
don't look now I've got everybody fooled
and I'm fooling myself too
because I'm everybody's fool
everybody's fool
don't get mad if I fooled you too because I'm everybody's fool

I won't admit it but I'm at a loss around you
trying so hard not to choke
I make you laugh – it brings us closer
but are you falling in love with a joke?
it's taken as a sign of maturity
to know it's better to laugh with than to laugh last
we all take care not to do anything too brilliant
I'd write a song about it but I'd just get laughed at

perhaps in me you see a friend in need
break down this armor set me free
find out what I am underneath
or that the exterior was me

let me be frank for a moment
on second thought I'll just be myself
wish I could get to know me
but I've spent too long being someone else