Behind the Painted Smile

Am I smiling or is it a lie Beneath the mask my soul runs dry They see laughter, they hear my cheer But my silent cries disappear I wear the painted smile they need to see A clown performing endlessly Behind the laughter there's a hollow sound A heart that breaks without a crowd The lights are winding, the stage is cold A fragile story that's never told They clap and cheer, but they don't know The weight of the mask I can't let go I'm smiling, but it's not real Hiding the pain I refuse to reveal Every laugh is a heavy disguise A fragile mask with tears inside I dance and twirl for their delight But I'm alone when it's quiet at night Oh, behind the painted smile they see Lies the broken version of me The makeup cracks, the colors fade But still I perform, it's the role I play Even when the music stops I bow to a silent crowd Wondering how, how did I become this A painted face trapped in a never-ending chase Every laugh feels like a heavy chain Tied to a cycle I can't escape Oh, I'm smiling, but it's not real Hiding the pain I refuse to reveal Every laugh is a heavy disguise A fragile mask with tears inside I dance and twirl for their delight But I'm alone when it's quiet at night Oh, behind the painted smile they see Lies the broken version of me When the lights go out and the curtain falls The silence echoes through these walls I stand alone in the empty space A ghost of joy with a painted face What if I could take the mask away Would they see me or turn away A fleeting thought, a fading dream Lost in the haze of this endless scene Am I smiling or is it a lie I wonder if they'll ever ask me why Why the painted smile feels so tight A heavy burden hidden from sight But I'll keep dancing, keep playing my part With a painted smile and a heavy heart Oh, behind the mask I'll always be The silent shadow no one can see Thank you for watching