♫ Lonely Teardrops ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

David did a music post the other night, and this favourite of mine was one of his choices!  Since I haven’t played it for a few years, I thought, “Why not?”  If you have a minute, check out David’s post … he’s got some sweet treats on there!

Released in 1959, this was written by the Detroit songwriting team who wrote Wilson’s first several hits – the duo of Tyran Carlo (the pen name of Wilson’s cousin Roquel Davis) and a pre-Motown Berry Gordy Jr., along with Gwen Gordy Fuqua, one of Berry Gordy’s four sisters.  They co-wrote eight other songs for Wilson. At the time, Gordy was a struggling songwriter, but this song – his first Top-10 hit as a songwriter – gave him the confidence to rent a building in Detroit and start the Tamla label, which would become Motown.

Many artists have covered this, including Jose Feliciano, teen idol pop singer Brian Hyland and Michael Jackson.  I didn’t listen to any of the other versions, for I’m quite satisfied with the original in this case (plus I’m tired and longing for my bed).

In September 1975, while performing at the Latin Casino in New Jersey, Wilson collapsed from a heart attack and a stroke right in the middle of this song. He never recovered and remained in a coma for eight more years; he was hospitalized until his death on January 21, 1984 (age 49). In tragic irony, the last words he sung before collapsing were “My heart is crying.” The audience at first thought that his fall was part of the act and they started applauding and cheering. It became evident that something was wrong when about half a minute later, he hadn’t moved. The excitement instantly turned into confusion and shock as attempts to revive Jackie on the stage were to no avail.

As far as I can tell, the song only charted in the U.S. (#7), and I’m not sure why, unless Jackie Wilson was just still too much an unknown.

Lonely Teardrops
Jackie Wilson

My heart is crying, crying
Lonely teardrops
My pillow’s never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(Say you will) say you will (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)
My heart is crying, crying

Lonely teardrops
My pillow’s never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(Say you will) say you will, (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)

Just give me another chance for our romance
Come on and tell me that one day you’ll return
‘Cause, every day that you’ve been gone away
You know my heart does nothing but burn, crying

Lonely teardrops
My pillow’s never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(Say you will) say you will, (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)
Say it right now, baby
(Say you will) come on, come on
(Say you will) say that you
Say it right now, baby
(Say you will) come on, come on
(Say you will) hey come on

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Berry Jr Gordy / Gwendolyn Gordy Fuqua / Tyran Carlo
Lonely Teardrops lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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50 thoughts on “♫ Lonely Teardrops ♫ (Redux)”

  1. This one didn’t ‘happen’ in the UK thus at the time of release it would not have figure on my childhood radar, and then came the British Wave, which only the later Tamala Motown could consistently ride out. ( with Stax and Atlantic in fits and starts).
    Curiously he became big in the UK in the late 1980s with re-releases. Go figure.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I read, I was sad, but also curious because it seemed that I should know this song but I didn’t. Then I turned it on, and DiNg! Oh, that song-I know that one, it really was the “say you will” one! But I didn’t know all of that about it, and didn’t recall the artists, or much of the lyrics. Thanks, Jill!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Ha ha … that happens to me ALL the time! I think I’ve never heard a song, but as soon as I begin listening … BOOM … the lightbulb comes on and I remember it like it was only yesterday! That is one of the things I most love about doing these music posts, learning some of the background of the song and the artist(s). Glad you enjoyed this one, Ali!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Ah, for the days when a singer could use his voice to influence the way the words were understood. Jackie was one of my favourite singers, along with Wilson Pickett of course, (their names just went together like fire and heat!) I never heard what happened to Jackie. A horrible way to go, but yet fitting he should go on stage — he put everything into his performances. And Berry Gordy helped write this? I don’t remember him writing much, if anything, for Motown.
    Guess I’m getting older!

    Liked by 3 people

  10. A sad back story to a song I don’t recall ever having heard until David played it. I preferred others of his, to be honest, like Reet Petite and Sweetest Feeling.

    Liked by 3 people

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