With his partner and wife, Cynthia Weil, they operate a publishing company called Dyad Music. His first hit as a writer was "She Say (Oom Dooby Doom)," which was a top twenty song for The Diamonds in 1959. Mann had co-written the song with Gerry Goffin. Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil met when they were both staff songwriters, they were married in 1961. Through the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, Mann came up with songs such as "Sometimes When We Touch" and movie scores such as that for I Never Sang for My Father. Weil co-wrote "He's So Shy" with Tom Snow for The Pointer Sisters and worked on projects with Lionel Richie.
In 1961, they wrote and Mann sang a novelty song that made the Top 10 with "Who Put The Bomp", which parodied the nonsense words of the then-recently popular doo wop songs.
In 1987, he was inducted with his wife into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Counting Teardrops
Barry Mann Lyrics
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Just like a little kid
You told me to cry you a river
Believe it or not, I did
′Cos I've been countin' teardrops instead of sheep
Honey, honey, I just can′t sleep
Because I miss (Yeah-yeah) you so (Yeah-yeah-yeah)
Since you′re gone the teardrops flow
For treatin' you so mean
All I need to keep me from drownin′
Is a plumber or a submarine
'Cos I′ve been countin' teardrops instead of sheep
Honey, honey, I just can′t sleep
Because I miss (Yeah-yeah) you so (Yeah-yeah-yeah)
Since you've gone the teardrops flow
Forty days and forty nights
I sit here in the gloom
Well, if you don't call or come back soon
I′m gonna drown in my living room
I hear tell they got seven oceans
Up to the present day
If you don′t come back soon, pretty baby
I'm gonna make it eight
′Cos I've been countin′ teardrops instead of sheep
Honey, honey, I just can't sleep
Because I miss (Yeah-yeah) you so (Yeah-yeah-yeah)
Since you′ve gone the teardrops flow
Countin' teardrops instead of sheep
Countin' teardrops instead of sheep
Countin′ teardrops instead...
The lyrics to Barry Mann's "Counting Teardrops" reveal a person's deep sense of loneliness and heartbreak after a breakup. The singer is depicted as sitting alone, crying and feeling like a child. The line "You told me to cry you a river, Believe it or not, I did" suggests that the person being addressed had asked to be shown the pain they caused, and the singer complied by shedding numerous tears.
The phrase "counting teardrops instead of sheep" is a play on the common practice of counting sheep to fall asleep, indicating that the singer cannot sleep due to their overwhelming sadness. The repetition of "honey, honey, I just can't sleep" emphasizes their desperate state and the ongoing impact of the person's absence. The recurring "yeah-yeah-yeah"s and "teardrops flow" further convey the depth of their sorrow.
The lyrics also acknowledge the reason for the breakup, with the singer being blamed for treating their partner poorly. The line "You told me I cry lonely teardrops, For treating you so mean" admits their wrongdoing and highlights their regret. The mention of needing a plumber or submarine to keep from drowning metaphorically expresses the singer's desperation to have someone or something to save them from their overwhelming emotions.
As time passes without any communication or reconciliation, the singer's despair intensifies. The mention of "forty days and forty nights" spent in gloom emphasizes the extended period of sadness endured. The threat of literally drowning in their living room adds a touch of dark humor to their desperate plea for the person to come back soon.
The final lines of the song mention the existence of seven oceans and playfully suggest that if their lover doesn't return, they will add an eighth ocean with their own tears. This hyperbole symbolizes the immense emotional weight they are carrying due to the absence of their loved one.
Overall, "Counting Teardrops" portrays the profound sadness and longing experienced after the end of a relationship. The lyrics capture the singer's inability to move on and the overwhelming impact of their emotions on their daily life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ev′ryday I sit here a-bawlin'
Every day, I find myself sitting here crying.
Just like a little kid
Similar to how a young child would cry.
You told me to cry you a river
You asked me to cry excessively for you.
Believe it or not, I did
Whether you believe it or not, I actually followed your request.
′Cos I've been countin' teardrops instead of sheep
Because I've been obsessively focusing on my tears instead of trying to fall asleep.
Honey, honey, I just can′t sleep
My dear, I am unable to sleep.
Because I miss (Yeah-yeah) you so (Yeah-yeah-yeah)
Due to the intense longing and yearning I feel for you.
Since you′re gone the teardrops flow
Ever since you left, my tears have been flowing endlessly.
You told me I cry lonely teardrops
You made it clear that I shed tears of loneliness.
For treatin' you so mean
Because I mistreated you.
All I need to keep me from drownin′
The only thing that can prevent me from being overwhelmed.
Is a plumber or a submarine
Is either a professional who can fix my leaking emotions or a means of escaping this emotional turmoil.
'Cos I′ve been countin' teardrops instead of sheep
Because I've been spending my time obsessively counting my tears instead of trying to fall asleep.
Forty days and forty nights
A significant period of time, symbolizing a long and difficult duration.
I sit here in the gloom
I remain in a state of darkness and sadness.
Well, if you don't call or come back soon
If you fail to contact or return to me in a timely manner.
I′m gonna drown in my living room
I will be consumed by my overwhelming emotions, even within the comfort of my own home.
I hear tell they got seven oceans
There is a saying that there are only seven oceans.
Up to the present day
Until this very moment.
If you don′t come back soon, pretty baby
Unless you return to me in the near future, my dear.
I'm gonna make it eight
I will imagine or create another ocean, making it a total of eight, depicting my immense sadness.
Countin' teardrops instead of sheep
Continuously focusing on counting tears instead of trying to fall asleep.
Countin' teardrops instead of sheep
Continuously focusing on counting tears instead of trying to fall asleep.
Countin′ teardrops instead...
Continuously focusing on counting tears instead of trying to fall asleep.
Writer(s): Barry Mann, Howard Greenfield
Contributed by Maria F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.