“Tracks of My Tears” is the poignant confession of a broken-heared man. The song was a signature of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and co-written by Robinson, Warren Moore, and Marvin Tarplin. I was surprised to learn that the song never topped the charts, but it’s on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of all Time and in the Grammy Hall of Fame. The song begins:
People say I’m the life of the party
Cause I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I’m blueSo take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
Just look closer, it’s easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Here are the full lyrics, and a performance by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.
Like any classic song, “Tracks of My Tears” had been covered many, many times, most recently by Adam Lambert on American Idol. That performance, available here, received a standing ovation from Smokey Robinson himself