In the chorus, she sings about how her tears have dried up, implying that she's moved on and grown from the experience. She knows that she's not the only one with bigger things to worry about, so she lets go of the stress she used to put on the man she loved. Amy realizes that their relationship had to come to an end at some point, and even though she still feels a pull towards her ex-lover, she understands that it's time to let go.
The bridge alludes to the fact that the relationship has become a part of her past, and no matter how tightly she clings onto the memories, the love will never be the same again. The final verse serves as a confessional, acknowledging the emotional debt she still carries with her despite the end of the relationship. But still, Amy recognizes that she's grown from the experience and learned to be her own best friend. The song fades with Amy repeating the hook while accepting that she's covered in shadows, but no longer crying. Overall, "Tears Dry on Their Own" portrays a sense of accepting the past, learning from it, and moving on.
Tears Dry on Their Own
Amy Winehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And this regret I got accustomed to
Once it was so right
When we were at our height
Waiting for ya in the hotel at night
I knew I hadn't met my match
But every moment we could snatch
I don't know why I got so attached
It's my responsibility
You don't owe nothing to me
But to walk away, I have no capacity
He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
And in your way
In this blue shade
My tears dry on their own
I don't understand
Why do I stress the man
When there's so many bigger things at hand?
We could've never had it all
We had to hit a wall
So this is inevitable withdrawal
Even if I stop wanting you
And perspective pushes through
I'll be some next man's other woman soon
I cannot play my self again
I should just be my own best friend
Not fuck my self in the head with stupid men
He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
And in your way
In this blue shade
My tears dry on their own
So we are history
Your shadow covers me
The sky above ablaze
He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown
And in your way
In this blue shade
My tears dry on their own
I wish I could sing no regrets
And no emotional debt
'Cause as we kissed goodbye, the sun sets
So we are history
Your shadow covers me
The sky above ablaze
That only lovers see
He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
And in your way
My blue shade
My tears dry on their own
Whoa, he walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I am grown
And in your way
My deep shade
My tears dry on their own, whoa
He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown
And in your way
My deep shade
My tears dry
In "Tears Dry on Their Own," Amy Winehouse addresses the aftermath of a toxic relationship. She recognizes her attachment to a man who will never be able to fully reciprocate her feelings and how that attachment has become a part of her identity. She resigns herself to the fact that she cannot control his actions, and it is her responsibility to let him go. She acknowledges that moving on will not be easy, but it is necessary. The chorus describes her eventual acceptance of the situation - she may still feel sad, but her tears will eventually dry on their own.
The second verse demonstrates her attempt to regain perspective. She questions why she is investing so much in one person when there are larger issues at hand. She acknowledges that their relationship was doomed to fail and that it was necessary for them to hit a wall. She also chooses to focus on self-improvement instead of continuing to involve herself with emotionally unhealthy men.
Throughout the song, she repeats the phrase "he walks away, the sun goes down," hammering home the idea that life goes on despite heartbreak. The final lines address how she wishes she could move on without any emotional baggage or regrets. She recognizes the beauty of the world around her, even in the midst of emotional turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
All I can ever be to you is a darkness that we knew
The singer can never mean as much to the person she is addressing as the memories they shared of a dark time.
And this regret I got accustomed to
The singer has learned to become used to the feeling of regret that comes after the end of a relationship.
Once it was so right
At one time, the relationship was perfect.
When we were at our height
The relationship was at its best when the couple were on top of the world.
Waiting for ya in the hotel at night
The singer was waiting for her partner in a hotel at night, showing that their relationship was once passionate.
I knew I hadn't met my match
The singer felt like the person she was with wasn't her equal.
But every moment we could snatch
Despite this, the couple made the most of the time they had together.
I don't know why I got so attached
The singer is questioning why she became so emotionally invested in the relationship.
It's my responsibility
The singer acknowledges that her actions are her own responsibility.
You don't owe nothing to me
The singer understands that her partner doesn't owe her anything.
But to walk away, I have no capacity
Despite this understanding, the singer is having trouble walking away from the relationship.
He walks away
The singer's partner has left her.
The sun goes down
The world keeps turning and time keeps moving forward.
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
Even though her partner has left, the singer is mature enough to handle the situation on her own.
And in your way
The singer's partner's absence is still affecting her in some way.
In this blue shade
The singer is feeling melancholy and downhearted.
My tears dry on their own
Despite her sadness, the singer is healing and coming to terms with what has happened on her own.
I don't understand
The singer is confused about her own behavior.
Why do I stress the man
The singer doesn't understand why she is upset with her partner.
When there's so many bigger things at hand?
There are more important things for the singer to focus on than just this one relationship.
We could've never had it all
The relationship was doomed from the beginning, and the singer is just now realizing it.
We had to hit a wall
The relationship ended badly, and the singer had to face this reality.
So this is inevitable withdrawal
The end of the relationship was always going to happen, and the singer is now going through the stages of withdrawal.
Even if I stop wanting you
The singer knows that even if she stops wanting her partner, she will still be affected by the end of the relationship.
And perspective pushes through
As time passes, the singer gains perspective and can start to see the situation more clearly.
I'll be some next man's other woman soon
The singer recognizes that she will move on and be with someone else, but she also has regrets about how she acted in the past relationship.
I cannot play my self again
The singer recognizes that she can't make the same mistakes in future relationships.
I should just be my own best friend
The singer realizes that she needs to focus on herself and her own well-being rather than relying on others for happiness.
Not fuck my self in the head with stupid men
The singer doesn't want to make the same mistakes again and get involved with the wrong people.
So we are history
The relationship is now over and in the past.
Your shadow covers me
The singer is still haunted by memories of the relationship and her ex-partner.
The sky above ablaze
Despite the pain of the breakup, the world and life still go on, as symbolized by the beautiful sky above.
That only lovers see
The beauty of the world is often most apparent to lovers, but now the singer sees it alone.
I wish I could sing no regrets
The singer wishes she could move on from the relationship and have no regrets about how it ended.
And no emotional debt
The singer wishes she didn't have to carry the emotional weight of the failed relationship with her.
'Cause as we kissed goodbye, the sun sets
The end of the relationship was like the end of a day, and now the singer is looking towards a future without her partner.
So we are history
The relationship is now over for good and will become a part of personal history.
Your shadow covers me
Despite trying to move on, the memories of the relationship still loom large for the singer.
The sky above ablaze
Despite the pain of the breakup, there is still beauty in the world.
That only lovers see
The beauty of the world is often most apparent to lovers, but now the singer sees it alone.
He walks away
The singer is left alone by her partner.
The sun goes down
The day comes to an end, as does the relationship.
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
Even after the end of the relationship, the singer is mature and independent enough to handle it on her own.
And in your way
The singer's partner still affects her in some ways.
My deep shade
Despite the pain of the breakup, the singer has reached a point of acceptance and healing.
My tears dry on their own, whoa
The singer has come a long way from the sadness and heartbreak of the previous lines.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Amy Winehouse, Valerie Simpson, Nickolas Ashford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kaila1163
[Produced by Salaam Remi]
[Verse 1]
All I can ever be to you is the darkness that we knew
And this regret I've got accustomed to
Once it was so right, when we were at our height
Waiting for you in the hotel at night
I knew I hadn't met my match
But every moment we could snatch
I don't know why I got so attached
It's my responsibility
And you don't owe nothing to me
But to walk away, I have no capacity
[Chorus]
He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
And in your way, in this blue shade
My tears dry on their own
[Verse 2]
I don't understand, why do I stress the man?
When there's so many bigger things at hand
We could've never had it all
We had to hit a wall
So this is inevitable withdrawal
Even if I stop wanting you and perspective pushes through
I'll be some next man's other woman soon
I cannot play myself again
I should just be my own best friend
Not fuck myself in the head with stupid men
[Bridge]
So we are history
Your shadow covers me
The sky above ablaze
[Chorus]
He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown
And in your way, in this blue shade
My tears dry on their own
[Verse 3]
I wish I could say no regrets
And no emotional debts
'Cause as we kiss goodbye, the sun sets
So we are history, the shadow covers me
The sky above ablaze that only lovers see
[Chorus]
He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
And in your way, my blue shade
My tears dry on their own
Woah, he walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day, but I am grown
And in your way, my deep shade
My tears dry on their own
[Outro]
He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown
And in your way, my deep shade
My tears dry
@unicornvggghhu4285
i hate it when people say she was just irresponsible and stupid. she purposefully took too much alcohol, she knew that her heart couldn't take any more, she was told by doctors. It was her last resort because she didn't know how else to escape, so don't just say she was wreckless with drugs. she had a very hard life, she struggled with bulimia and depression since 15. Even when she needed a break, no one told her to stop. Her OWN dad told her to carry on with touring only so more money would come in. No one understood her struggle. when she took to drugs in the form of escape, the media only crushed her more. someone can only take so much.
@twinzRus2ooo
+Abigail Thomson Amy Winehouse <3
@janelleetsitty36
+Abigail Thomson ...well said...you nailed girl!
Years of bulimia was the trigger, affects the ticker and the addictions were too much; heart failure.
@EyefyourGf
+Abigail Thomson I agree with you 100% i watched the movie,and i couldn't believe how her dad acted with her,it made me sad,she just needed some help,and break from all this shit she was going trough,i'm really pissed she died so young,even if she didn't created single album she had so much life ahead,R.I.P Amy
@Indo_Lee_1992
+Abigail Thomson Niice said sweetheart you know how the pieces fall in there place :)
@pantamal9
+Abigail Thomson Well said, in such cases people always know and in the end might choose their way to die, surrendering to their greatest passions, those bad habits. I believe this attitude is truly unperceivable for people who have never been involved in such stuff.
@DucMeLana
amy's eyeliner will always be iconic.
@alinanistor1429
I tried to do the same eyeliner but it doesn t fit me well 😅😅
@GrayRabbit
Umm havent you seen her hair?
@DucMeLana
Nicoly Gregorio we always talk about her hair. period. Dont we?