From the sheet music at Mississippi State University.

PAINTING THE CLOUDS WITH SUNSHINE
Words, Al Dubin; Music, Joe Burke; ©1929 by M. Witmark & Sons.
Written for the Warner Bros. motion picture Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929), in which it was sung by Nick Lucas.

1. This life's a play from the start.
It's hard to play through a part,
When there's an ache in your heart
All day.
I have my dreams 'til the dawn,
I wake to find they are gone,
But still the play "must go on,"
They say.

CHORUS: When I pretend I'm gay,
I never feel that way.
I'm only painting the clouds with sunshine.
When I hold back a tear
To make a smile appear,
I'm only painting the clouds with sunshine.
Painting the blues
Beautiful hues,
Colored with gold and old rose;
Playing the clown,
Trying to drown
All of my woes;
Though things may not look bright
They'll all turn out all right
If I keep painting the clouds with sunshine.

2. Each cloud you have on your mind,
You'll find can be silver lined,
If you'll just make up your mind
To smile.
Though I may fret, I'll admit,
You'll hear me laugh quite a bit,
If only for just a lit-
tle while.