The Tracks of My Tears is a direct hit in the hearts of all who have suffered from unrequited love. When Smokey Robinson performed it at concerts, sobbing could be heard throughout the hall.
Subsequently, the song, which became the main hit of the Tamla Motown label, was performed by dozens of famous artists. She repeatedly hit the charts, was awarded numerous prestigious awards and is in most of the most authoritative ratings.
History of The Tracks of My Tears
The song was composed by Smokey Robinson, vocalist Pete Moore and guitarist Marv Tarplin.
Smokey said:
Actually, Tracks of My Tears was started by Marv Tarplin, a young guy who played guitar with us. You know, he had this musical thing, and we worked with it and worked, and then it became Tracks of My Tears.
The Motown Story
Marv recalled that the idea for the tune came to him after he heard the calypso The Banana Boat Song (Day-O) by Harry Belafonte.
Tarplin recorded the music on a cassette and gave it to Robinson. Smokey liked it, but for a long time he could not compose the words of the song. One day, while shaving, he looked at his reflection in the mirror and thought: “What if a person cries so often that you can see traces of tears on his face?”
Then he had a line: “Take a good look at my face, you see my smile looks out of place”. A few days later, the phrase appeared: “If you look closer it’s easy to trace… my tears”.
Robinson’s word:
One day I was listening [мелодию]and it just came up: “Traces of my tears.” Like prints on the face. This is what I wrote about.
NPR, 2006
Release and achievements
The single The Tracks of My Tears with the track A Fork in the Road was released on June 23, 1965. It peaked at number two on the Billboard R&B chart and peaked at number sixteen on the “hot 100”. In the British hit parade, the composition took the ninth position.
Let’s listen to The Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
The song has appeared on several ratings and top music lists, including the following:
- “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” – Rolling Stone
- “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” – NME
- “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll” – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,
- Grammy Award Hall of Fame,
- National Recording Registry – Library of Congress.
A more detailed list of The Tracks of My Tears awards and achievements is published in the article about the song in the English Wikipedia.
Cover versions
In 1967, the composition performed by Johnny Rivers (Johnny Rivers) was in tenth place on the Billboard Hot 100.
An interesting version of The Tracks of My Tears was presented by Aretha Franklin. The song was included on the Soul ’69 album.
In 1975, Linda Ronstadt released the song as a single from the Prisoner in Disguise album. Her version charted in several countries.
Let’s watch the video clip of The Tracks of My Tears – Linda Ronstadt.
A cover of The Tracks of My Tears by Go West climbed to number sixteen in the UK charts.
Interesting Facts
- When Robinson recorded The Tracks of My Tears, everyone in Motown, including the picky Berry Gordy, was sure it was going to be a hit.
- Pete Townsend liked Robinson’s use of the word substitute so much that he wrote the song Substitute (1966) himself.
- American soldiers in Vietnam loved The Tracks of My Tears, so Oliver Stone included it on the Platoon soundtrack.
- The composition was also included in the soundtracks of the films The Big Chill, The Walking Dead and Bobby.
The Tracks of My Tears Lyrics Smokey Robinson
People say I’m the life of the party
Because I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I’m blue
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it’s easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I’m having fun
Although she may be cute
She’s just a substitute
Because you’re the permanent one
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it’s easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Outside I’m masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown oh yeah
Since you put me down
My smile is my make up
I wear since my break up with you
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it’s easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
Smokey Robinson lyrics The Tracks of My Tears
They say I’m the soul of the company
Because I make a joke or two.
Though I can laugh sincerely and out loud
Deep in my heart I’m sad.
Look closely at my face
You will see that my smiles are out of place.
If you look closely, it’s easy to see
Traces of my tears.
I need you, I need you.
Since you left me, if you see me with someone else
It might look like I’m having fun.
Though she may be pretty
She’s just a replacement
After all, only you are constant.
Look closely at my face
You will see that my smiles are out of place.
If you look closely, it’s easy to see
Traces of my tears.
I need you, I need you.
In public I pretend
Alone with myself, I lose hope.
I’m just a clown
Since you humiliated me.
My smile is just makeup
Which I’ve been putting on since we broke up.
Look closely at my face
You will see that my smiles are out of place.
If you look closely, it’s easy to see
Traces of my tears.
