Living A Little, Laughing A Little

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Laugh everyone at the clown
He's the best one in town, Ummm ummm
Ride on his merry-go-round
Spinning faster than sound
Uuuuh huh Uuuuh huh

Laugh as the funny man cries
Though his makeup is smeared
Uuuuh huuuh
Laugh at his comical tears
As he thinks of the years
Uuuuh huh Uuuuh huh

Livin' just a little
Laughing just a little
Ain't easy, Uuuuuh huuuuh

Livin' just a little
Laughing just a little
Ain't easy

Laugh everyone at the fool with his heart in his hand
Uuuuh huuuh
Mmmmm, he can't quite understand that he's less than a man
Uuuuh huuuh Uuuuh huuuh

Lost somewhere deep in his shell
There's an ember of pride
Uuuuh huuuh
Watch how he tries hard to hide that he's dying inside
Uuuuh huuuh
Uuuuh huuuh

Livin' just a little
Laughing just a little
Ain't easy, Uuuuuh huuuuh

Livin' just a little
Laughing just a little
Ain't easy

Livin' just a little
Laughing just a little
Ain't easy, Uuuuuh huuuuh

Livin' just a little
Laughing just a little
Ain't easy

Living A Little, Laughing A Little
Written byThom Bell and Linda Creed
Performed byJohn Hiatt (with Elvis Costello)
Produced byNorbert Putnam
MusiciansJohn Hiatt - vocals, guitar
Elvis Costello - vocals
Jesse Boyce - bass
Larrie Londin - drums
Jon Goin - guitar
Shane Keister - keyboards
Tracy Nelson - background vocal
Anita Baugh - background vocal
Dianne Davidson - background vocal
RecordedJuly 1984, Los Angeles
ReleasedJanuary, 1985
AlbumsJohn Hiatt: Warming Up To The Ice Age, 1985
SinglesLiving A Little, Laughing A Little, 1985
CollectionsLiving A Little, Laughing A Little 1974-85, 1996
Length4:03

First known performance:
September 16, 1982, Manchester, England - snippet in medley with Alison
March 31, 1985, London, England - only known full performance
Last known performance:
September 25, 2008, San Francisco, CA - snippet in medley with Alison
     (1 known performances, 116 as a snippet)


Alternate versions

Alison / Living A Little, Laughing A Little / Tracks Of My Tears / Tears Of A Clown / No More Tearstained Make-Up / Clowntime Is Over (Live 1996)
Performed byCostello & Nieve
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
RecordedMay 22, 1996, New York, NY
ReleasedDecember 3, 1996
AlbumsCostello & Nieve, 1996
PromosLive At The Supper Club, New York, 1996
Length6:16

John Hiatt: Warming Up To The Ice AgeJohn Hiatt Warming Up To The Ice Age album cover.jpg

Single: Living A Little, Laughing A LittleLiving A Little, Laughing A Little 7" single front sleeve.jpg

John Hiatt: Living A Little, Laughing A Little 1974-85Living A Little Laughing A Little 1974-85 album cover.jpg

Costello & NieveCostello & Nieve album cover.jpg


Recordings by other artists

The Spinners  1974 New And Improved AllMusicWikipediaAmazon

Internal links

External links