R.I.P. Smokey the Hamster: The Tears of a Clown

Smokey, our beloved family hamster, passed away last night under some mysterious, Bob Crane-like circumstances which I don't care to get into. I'm not sure how old he was or if he leaves any survivors, but my kids are devastated.

Smokey got his name for his smokey-colored mane, not for any resemblance to Motown's great singer/songwriter/producer Smokey Robinson, whose "Tears of a Clown" is one of my all-time favorite songs.

The music for "Tears of a Clown" was written in 1966 by Stevie Wonder and his partner at Motown Hank Cosby. Though they loved the instrumental track they'd created, Stevie couldn't come up with a lyric or melody that he thought was worthy of it, so he asked Smokey if he had any ideas.

Smokey said the song reminded him of the circus and immediately got to work writing a tune wherein the subject of the tune compares himself to the sad opera clown Pagliachi.

The tune was released in 1967 but didn't strike it big till 1970, when it was issued as a single and went straight to #1 in the US and UK. Amazingly, it was Smokey's only #1 hit with the Miracles.

Eleven years later the English Beat did a fine ska-tinged version of "Tears of a Clown" on their classic debut LP I Just Can't Stop It that was a big hit on the college/new wave radio party circuit.



As Smokey says in the song, There's some sad things known to man, but there ain't too much sadder than a dead hamster. I'm paraphrasing of course. R.I.P., Smokey.

Get "Tears of a Clown" on iTunes here:
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
The English Beat