There Will Be Tears
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've no doubt
There may be smiles
But a few
And when those tears
Have run out
You will be numb and blue
But I can dream
I can't be there with you
But I can dream
I can't be there with you
But I can dream
I can't be there with you
But I can dream
I can't be there with you
But I can dream
I can't be there with you
But I can dream
I still dream dream dream
I still dream
My grandaddy was a player
Pretty boy in a pair of gators
See I met him later on
Think it was 1991
The only dad I'd ever know
But pretty soon he'd be gone too
Hide my face hide my face
Can't let em see me crying
'Cause these boys didn't have no fathers neither
And they weren't crying
My friend said it wasn't so bad
You can't miss what you ain't had
Well I can
I'm sad and there will be tears
I've no doubt
There may be smiles
But a few
And when those tears
Have run out
You will be numb
And blue
I can't be there
That's all you had to say to me was
You couldn't be there
Why couldn't you say to me
You won't be there
You could've warned me
You wouldn't be here
Right here
You wouldn't be here for me
Frank Ocean's ballad "There Will Be Tears" is a song that speaks to the realities of childhood and absent fathers. The song begins on an ominous and melancholy note, acknowledging that tears will be shed at some point in life. Ocean proceeds to consider the possibility of a few happy moments, but he doesn't seem optimistic that they will make up for the long periods of sadness that will follow. He then predicts a feeling of numbness and heartache once the tears finally dry up.
The chorus is a repetition of the phrase "I can't be there with you, but I can dream." It's a simple statement that reflects the pain of not being able to be where one ought to be. The second verse relates to Ocean's relationship with his grandfather. The singer is a boy in 1991 who met his grandfather when he was older. He is mourning his grandfather's imminent passing, while also reflecting on the fact that his stepfather has also left his life empty. The chorus is repeated to represent how we dream of the relationships we ought to have but cannot.
"There Will Be Tears" is a song that speaks to real emotions and feelings about the relationship between father and son. It is a song that can be understood and appreciated by those who appreciate the complexities of human emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
There will be tears
Pain and emotions will run high
I've no doubt
It's certain to happen
There may be smiles
There will be brief moments of happiness
But a few
Those moments will not last long
And when those tears
When the emotions become overwhelming
Have run out
When the pain subsides
You will be numb and blue
You will be emotionally drained and depressed
I can't be there with you
Physically present with you
But I can dream
Imagining and thinking of you
My grandaddy was a player
My grandfather was a womanizer
Pretty boy in a pair of gators
He was a good looking man who wore alligator shoes
See I met him later on
I didn't meet him until later in life
Think it was 1991
I believe it was in 1991
The only dad I'd ever know
He was the only father figure I had
But pretty soon he'd be gone too
He died shortly after I got to know him
Hide my face hide my face
Don't let others see me upset
Can't let em see me crying
I don't want to appear weak in front of others
'Cause these boys didn't have no fathers neither
My friends also grew up without fathers
And they weren't crying
They didn't show their emotions as openly
My friend said it wasn't so bad
My friend tried to downplay the situation
You can't miss what you ain't had
You can't long for something you never had
Well I can
But I do miss having a father
I'm sad and there will be tears
I'm grieving and will experience more emotional pain
That's all you had to say to me was
You could have been honest with me
You couldn't be there
You couldn't physically be present
Why couldn't you say to me
Why couldn't you be truthful with me
You won't be there
You made the decision not to be present
You could've warned me
You could have prepared me for your absence
You wouldn't be here
You chose not to be with me at this time
Right here
Physically present in this moment
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Edwin Breaux
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kyoshiaiko6083
"There Will Be Tears"
there will be tears
i've no doubt
there may be smiles
but a few
and when those tears
have run out
you will be numb and blue
i can't be there with you
but i can dream
i can't be there with you
but i can dream
i can't be there with you
but i can dream
i can't be there with you
but i can dream
i can't be there with you
but i can dream
i can't be there with you
but i can dream
i still dream dream dream
i still dream
my grandaddy was a player
pretty boy in a pair of gators
see i met him later on
think it was 1991
the only dad i'd ever know
but pretty soon he'd be gone too
hide my face hide my face
can't let em see me crying
cause these boys didn't have no fathers neither
and they weren't crying
my friend said it wasn't so bad
you can't miss what you ain't had
well i can
i'm sad and there will be tears
i've no doubt
there may be smiles
but a few
and when those tears
have run out
you will be numb
and blue
i can't be there
that's all you had to say to me was
you couldn't be there
why couldn't you say to me
you won't be there
you could've warned me
you wouldn't be here
right here
you wouldn't be here for me
@specialk2404
One of my favorite songs to cry to. I love this song.Β
i can't be there
that's all you had to say to me was
you couldn't be there
why couldn't you say to me
you won't be there
you could've warned me
you wouldn't be here
right here
you wouldn't be here for me
no, no, no, no, no, no
@TycoonToyo
Im waiting for the day : everyone knows Frank ocean , every station plays his songs on the radio , & when Frank wins a million grammy's and is for once nominated. I can't wait for this day β₯
@jean-paulbelmondo3773
You we're right all along.
@AlejandroLopez-vx2le
@cokebeezel that means it aged badly, this aged like wine
@1928gloria
the day has come
@rowanmelles3163
This happened long ago lolllll
@kayhaych05
you were right :)
@darkmoti6636
RIP Ryan. This song hits harder and harder in the feels as time passes by
@ameiar7145
Timothy Dale Mendoza it truly does.
@JosephEveratt
Ryan was taken from us to early
@MarkH.2018
Who's that?