I'm going to the racetrack to see my pony run
If he won some money, gonna take my good gals on
Yeah, you don't know, you don't know my mind
When you see me laughing, I'm laughing just to keep from crying

I left my frump standing in the door, lookin' after me a-crying say
"You won't come back no more, sweet daddy"
You don't know, you don't know my mind
When you see me laughing, I'm laughing just to keep from crying

When I asked my mama, "Can you stand to say goodbye?"
She said, "Yes, sweet papa, if you can stand to see me cry, Lord"
You don't know, ooh, my mind
Oh, when you see me laughing, honey, laughing just to keep from crying

I got a handful o' nickels, got a pocketful o' dimes
Got a houseful o' youngens and no one mind
Lord, you don't know, you don't know my mind
And when you see me laughing, I'm laughing just to keep from crying