My mind works all the time, is that why you're afraid of me'
Or is it my tattoos that you can't help but see'
Say that I am complex, don't believe everything I read,
And sometimes it is so hard to explain the thing that I have seen.

It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh.

I don't smile for pictures, my success is overdone,
God watches over me, you know; I'm the fortunate one,
Give me wings of angels, rise above self-righteousness,
There's only so much of this old world my soul can digest.

It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh.

Look a man dead in the eye, see deep within his soul,
Walk a mile in his shoes, you'll never know all he knows, knows.

Songs ain't always pretty 'cause the truth, it sometimes hurts,
And even though it's painful, you know all the words,
I've learned to shut the world out and to let the Spirit in,
It's only when I'm honest that miracles begin.

It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh, only hurts when I laugh,
Only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh,
It only hurts when I laugh.