Born Eugene Booker McDaniels, a name he used in later life, in Kansas City … Read Full Bio ↴Born Eugene Booker McDaniels, a name he used in later life, in Kansas City on February 12, 1935, Gene was a former gospel singer, signed to Liberty Records in the early 1960's where he scored American hits with original version of "Tower Of Strength" (covered successfully in the UK by Frankie Vaughan) and "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay", a UK hit for Craig Douglas. However, his influence on UK copyists brought him on a nationwide cinema tour with Gary U.S. Bonds and Johnny Burnette as well as an appearance in "It's Trad Dad", one of a series of pop-based movies of the time. His classy voice should have served him a lifetime of success, and songs like the above mentioned, plus "Point Of No Return", "Chip Chip" and "Another Tear Falls" stand the test of time. He re-emerged in the 1970's with a rock/funk album, "Outlaw", on Atlantic as Eugene McDaniels, and moved to record production. He died on July 29, 2011, but it was not national news till four days later.

A Tear
Gene McDaniels Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A tear... I can't stop this little drop of water called a tear Ever since you went away, this little drop of water has been here
So my darlin tell me why, why you wanna make me cry
Come here and stop this little drop of water called a tear
As long as you're in love, you'll find as you go through the years
From your heart, love will bring laughter
And from your eyes, love will bring tears, tears, tears, tears
A tear... what is this little drop of water called a tear
When you broke my little heart, this little drop of water of fears

I guess it's something I can't explain, why this little crystal of rain
Falls from my eyes, a little drop of water called a tear

O-o-oh
Keeps fallin from my eyes tears, tears, tears, tears, tears, tears, oooooh

Overall Meaning

The song "A Tear" by Gene McDaniels is a heart-wrenching ballad that describes the pain of losing someone you love. The lyrics talk about a little drop of water called a tear that keeps falling from the singer's eyes ever since his lover went away. He begs her to come back and stop this little drop of water, while also questioning why she would want to make him cry. The singer seems to be struggling to understand why love can bring both laughter and tears, and expresses his confusion about why this little crystal of rain falls from his eyes.

The theme of lost love and heartbreak is a common one in many romantic ballads, but what sets this song apart is the way it captures the emotions of the singer. He is not just sad, he is confused and hurting, and the tears seem to represent a physical manifestation of his pain. The repetition of the word "tears" throughout the chorus reinforces this, almost as if the singer is trying to understand why his body is reacting in this way.

Line by Line Meaning

A tear...
The singer is referring to the physical manifestation of crying and how he cannot stop it

I can't stop this little drop of water called a tear
The singer is unable to control his tears which he describes as small drops of water

Ever since you went away, this little drop of water has been here
The singer has been feeling sad and crying since his lover left him

So my darlin tell me why, why you wanna make me cry
The singer is asking his lover why they would want to hurt him and make him cry

Come here and stop this little drop of water called a tear
The singer wants his lover to comfort him and help him stop crying

As long as you're in love, you'll find as you go through the years
The singer is stating that love includes both happy and sad moments

From your heart, love will bring laughter
Love can bring happiness and joy

And from your eyes, love will bring tears, tears, tears, tears
Love can also bring sadness and pain that results in crying

A tear... what is this little drop of water called a tear
The singer is asking a rhetorical question about the nature of crying

When you broke my little heart, this little drop of water of fears
The singer suggests that his tears are linked to his heartbreak and fears associated with it

I guess it's something I can't explain, why this little crystal of rain
The singer admits that he doesn't fully understand why he is crying

Falls from my eyes, a little drop of water called a tear
The singer is explaining that his tears are a physical manifestation of his sadness

Keeps fallin from my eyes tears, tears, tears, tears, tears, tears, oooooh
The singer repeats the idea that he continues to cry and expresses his emotions through the repetition of 'tears'

Writer(s): Luther Dixon, Willie Denson

Contributed by Riley K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS