… Read Full Bio ↴Blossom Dearie (1924-2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist.
Born on 28th April 1924 in East Durham, New York, of mixed Scottish and Norwegian ancestry, Dearie began her career in vocal groups in New York. In the early 1950s she moved to Paris, forming her own vocal group, The Blue Stars, later to become the Swingle Singers.
After signing to Verve, Dearie returned to the U.S. where, despite developing a successful career and achieving international fame, by 1974 the lack of interest from major labels led her to start her own label, Daffodil Records. She continued performing into her eighties.
Blossom Dearie died on 7th February 2009, at her apartment in Greenwich Village, New York City
Inside a Silent Tear
Blossom Dearie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inside a silent tear, I have a silent dream
That sometimes sails across the patterns of my mind.
The silence follows me and dreams just disappear
and then I find myself inside a silent tear
Sometimes I laugh too much
I'm not the laughing kind.
I can't say anything I really want to say.
I guess I try so hard I stumble on the way.
I'm always finding love when it's not meant to be.
What is reality and can it be defined?
When you're a fool like me it's never really clear
so you have silent dreams inside a silent tear.
I'm always finding love when it's not meant to be.
What is reality and can it be defined?
When you're a fool like me it's never really clear
so you have silent dreams inside a silent tear.
Blossom Dearie's song "Inside a Silent Tear" is a beautiful and emotional ballad that touches on loneliness, the search for love, and the reality of life. The song's lyrics convey a deep sense of pain and uncertainty that is common to many people, especially those who struggle to connect with others. The opening line, "Inside a silent tear, I have a silent dream," sets the tone for the rest of the song. Dearie's voice is soft and gentle, but there is an underlying sadness that echoes through the lyrics.
Throughout the song, Dearie draws attention to the quiet moments of life, where dreams and thoughts are lost in the silence. She sings of how laughter can sometimes mask the loneliness inside, and how finding love can be a confusing and unclear experience. While the lyrics are emotive, there is a sense of hope that runs through them. Dearie seems to be saying that even in the midst of pain and uncertainty, there is still the possibility of finding love and happiness.
The song itself is a perfect example of Dearie's unique style of jazz. Her soft, whispery voice is accompanied by a gentle piano and a light drumbeat. The melody is simple and repetitive, enhancing the dreamlike quality of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Inside a silent tear, I have a silent dream
I hold a secret dream deep inside, but I keep it hidden and quiet like a tear.
That sometimes sails across the patterns of my mind.
Sometimes my dream comes to the surface of my thoughts and I can envision it clearly.
The silence follows me and dreams just disappear
The quiet and solitude follows me around and causes my dreams to fade away.
and then I find myself inside a silent tear
As my dream fades, I become overwhelmed with sadness and I feel like I'm trapped in a tear.
Sometimes I laugh too much to lose the loneliness.
I use laughter as a way to cope with my loneliness, but it never really goes away.
I'm not the laughing kind.
Despite my attempts to laugh off my pain, I'm not really a happy person.
I can't say anything I really want to say.
I have trouble expressing myself and saying what's really on my mind.
I guess I try so hard I stumble on the way.
I put a lot of effort into trying to communicate, but I often end up messing up anyway.
I'm always finding love when it's not meant to be.
I have a habit of falling for people who are not interested in me or situations that are not conducive to love.
What is reality and can it be defined?
I often question what is real and whether it can truly be understood.
When you're a fool like me it's never really clear
As someone who often makes bad decisions, I can never really see things clearly.
so you have silent dreams inside a silent tear.
As a result, I keep my dreams hidden deep inside, only letting them out when I cry alone.
Writer(s): Blossom Dearie, Mariah Blackwolf
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MusicLoverBrian1
This is such a BEAUTIFUL song . . . flawless in every way! I've heard of Blossom Dearie and listened to a few of her songs but I haven't really LISTENED to it . . . until now. "Inside A Silent Tear" is a MASTERPIECE . . . a TOUR DE FORCE and I love EVERYTHING about it: Blossom Dearie's voice, the musical arrangement, the instruments, the lyrics, Blossom's interpretation of this poignant and heart moving song.
@wimpers
and she wrote the song !
@edwardmallon8679
Well said. She was a regular on jack paar
@arnie409
I have most of her albums and she is perfect in every way. This is a beautiful song and Blossom's piano playing is such a joy. I wish I saw her in person and I thank everyone who downloaded her performances on youtube. I really miss her! Arnie Fox
@michaeltekulsky5665
Arnie Fox I met her once and had a drink with her after her gig at the ballroom. She was just a sweet old lady but also childlike. Just like her singing.
@ignaciadepano
Michael Tekulsky how lucky! She’s my idol.
@philipthomas5108
Loved her wonderful singing for over 50 years - peerless!
@ericgregorio2155
What a pleasure it is to hear her interpretation of this song and piano work! I Love Blossom Dearie!!!
@JayElWu
May she rest in peace. I was very recently introduced to this song in a jazz vocals class and absolutely fell in love with this song. I know Blossom wrote the song but it was through this youtube clip that I became aware that she was also the orig singer.
@ficheye00
It wasn't a very good class if they didn't credit the original author. On every chart I've seen her name is prominently displayed. I guess some people hear the Carmen Mcrae version and assume that she wrote it.