This song was written for the 1948 musical comedy The Pirate, as Serafin (Gene Kelly) first sings and dances the song with members of his circus (Fayard and Harold Nicholas), then sings more of it with Manuela (Judy Garland).
Be a clown
Be a clown
All the world
Loves a clown
Be a fool
Play the calf
And you'll always have the last laugh
Wear the cap
And the bells
And you'll rate with all the great swells
If you become a doctor, folks'll face you with dread
If you become a dentist, they'll be glad when you're dead
You'll get a bigger hand if you can stand on your head
Be a clown, be a clown, be a clown
(instrumental break while tap dance)
Various Artists released Be A Clown on Sat Jun 12 1954.