Born… Read Full Bio ↴Eliza Carthy (b. 1975) is an English folk singer and violinist.
Born on 23rd August 1975, she is the daughter of legendary English folk musicians singer/guitarist Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson. She formed The Waterdaughters with her mother, aunt (Lal Waterson), and cousin Maria Knight in 1989. She has subsequently worked with Nancy Kerr, and also with her parents as Waterson:Carthy, in addition to her own solo work.
She has twice been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize for UK album of the year: in 1998 for Red Rice, and again in 2003 for Anglicana. In 2003 Carthy swept the boards at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, winning Folk Singer of the Year, Best Album (for Anglicana), and Best Traditional Track (for "Worcester City").
In 2004 she was part of Oysterband's Big Session, a collaboration with numerous folk artists. They produced an album The Big Session Volume One, and the group as a whole were awarded Best Group at the Folk Awards in 2005.
Two Tears
Eliza Carthy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who's like the rain
And look that's you
When you first appeared
You brought be flowers everyday
Now where are you?
No one's saying that you should be here
But if you were the forcast would be clear
Not outside but inside
And exactly two tears I did cry
One from each eye
This faithless girl has loved a dozen faithless souls
Now I am low and you you're new
When you were first around
I told you all about good friends
And all and true(?)
You said you wished you had a story so profound
But how could you boy you wouldn't stick around
How the rain came down
When I turned and you weren't by my side
Then exactly two tears I did cry
Exactly two tears I cried
Exactly two tears
See you in the mirror you are laughing at your looks
They take up your time
Right honey you
Life sings funny songs
And they'll caress your golden head
And I did too
You can kiss me for the fool that I am still
Ohhh where are you it feels as though you will
How the rain came down
Not outside but inside
And then exactly two tears I did cry
How the rain came down
Not outside but inside
And then exactly two tears I did cry
One from each eye
One for each lie
One for each side
Exactly two tears
The song “Two Tears” by Eliza Carthy is a reflection on faithless love and heartbreak. The singer of the song is a woman who has loved many people who have betrayed her trust, leaving her feeling broken and alone. She talks about a man who once brought her flowers every day when he first appeared, but has now disappeared, leaving her wondering where he is. The woman is not asking for the man's return, but acknowledges that if he were to come back, it would be like the sunshine after the rain" things would be clear and resolved. The song reaches its emotional climax when the singer talks about how she cried "exactly two tears"- one from each eye- reflecting how limited her capacity for investing her heart in another is when she has learnt that there will be always be two sides to a story.
The language of the lyrics conjures up powerful and emotive images. For instance, the simile of 'boy is like the rain' is an interesting comparison as it suggests the unpredictability and lack of control felt in relationships. This and the other images like 'not outside but inside' allows listeners to understand that the singer of the song is not feeling physically hurt, but the pain she is feeling is deep-rooted and emotional.
The structure of the song is also noteworthy as it is a ballad with a steady tempo, much like the steady rain we hear of in the lyrics. The chorus where the singer expresses the crying of "exactly two tears" is especially emotional as it is a stark contrast to the flowing nature of the rest of the song. The simplicity in the lyrics adds to the feel of the song, as the words are deliberately kept basic to induce the sense of familiarity while still making the song's theme clear.
Overall, "Two Tears" by Eliza Carthy conveys heartbreak and pain, with the imagery used providing a deep emotional connection for many listeners who can relate to heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Marianne Faithfull sings a song about boy
The singer is referencing Marianne Faithfull's song about a boy, which serves as a comparison for the person she is singing about.
Who's like the rain
The boy in question is compared to rain.
And look that's you
The singer is saying that the person she is referring to is the boy and he can be compared to rain.
When you first appeared
The singer is talking about the initial appearance of the boy.
You brought me flowers everyday
When the boy first appeared, he brought flowers everyday to the singer.
Now where are you?
The singer is questioning where the boy has gone.
No one's saying that you should be here
The singer acknowledges that nobody is saying the boy should be present.
But if you were the forecast would be clear
The singer thinks that if the boy were present, things would be easier for her to predict and understand.
As the rain came down
The rain serves as a metaphor for the emotions and tears the singer is experiencing in this song.
Not outside but inside
The singer is saying that the rain is an internal rain of emotions and tears, not an external one.
And exactly two tears I did cry
The singer has cried exactly two tears.
One from each eye
The two tears came from separate eyes.
This faithless girl has loved a dozen faithless souls
The singer has loved many unfaithful people.
Now I am low and you you're new
The singer is currently feeling low and the boy is new in her life.
When you were first around
The singer is referring to the time when the boy had first appeared in her life.
I told you all about good friends and all and true(?)
The singer shared stories about good friends with the boy.
You said you wished you had a story so profound
The boy expressed a desire to have a deep and meaningful story to tell.
But how could you boy you wouldn't stick around
The singer questions how the boy could have a deep story when he doesn't stay around long enough to experience anything meaningful.
See you in the mirror you are laughing at your looks
The singer sees the boy in the mirror and notices that he's laughing at his own appearance.
They take up your time
The singer is referencing the boy's preoccupation with his appearance.
Right honey you
The singer is addressing the boy.
Life sings funny songs
Life can bring about unexpected and strange situations.
And they'll caress your golden head
The singer is saying that life will treat the boy nicely and favorably.
And I did too
The singer also treated the boy kindly.
You can kiss me for the fool that I am still
The singer is acknowledging that she is still foolish for loving someone who is not faithful.
Ohhh where are you it feels as though you will
The singer is longing for the boy's return.
Not outside but inside
The rain that the singer is referencing is an internal one of emotions and tears.
And then exactly two tears I did cry
The singer has cried exactly two tears.
One from each eye
The two tears came from separate eyes.
One for each lie
The two tears were shed in response to the boy's untruthful nature.
One for each side
The two tears were shed in response to the boy's lack of commitment to the relationship.
Contributed by Elliot N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.