Gladys Knight, born on May 28, 1944, developed her singing style while singing with her family at Baptist church functions. Though the group first released recordings in 1958, their career really got started when Motown founder Berry Gordy witnessed them perform at Harlem’s Apollo Theater in 1966 and felt very impressed. With a career following spanning decade after decade, featuring many hits, the group has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
Tracks of My Tears
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Because I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
I need you, need you
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I'm having fun
Although she may be cute
She's just a substitute
Because you're the permanent one
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Outside I'm masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown oh yeah
Since you put me down
My smile is my make up
I wear since my break up with you
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
The lyrics of Gladys Knight & The Pips's song Tracks of My Tears talk about putting on a brave front while feeling sad and dejected inside. The singer of the song is known to be the life of the party and can often be found laughing and joking with others. However, deep inside, the singer is feeling blue and hurting. The song goes on to describe how people only see what is on the surface but fail to look closer to see the real emotions underneath. The chorus of the song emphasizes this point by saying that if one takes a good look at the singer's face, they will see that the smile looks out of place and that it is easy to trace the tracks of tears.
The song also narrates the feeling of missing someone who has left. The singer is unable to move on and is constantly reminded of their past love by everything around them, even when they are with someone else. They try to fill the void by being with other people, but they are only a temporary fix, and the singer's heart still belongs to their past love. The song brings out the feeling of hopelessness and the struggle to move on after a heartbreak.
Overall, "Tracks of My Tears" is a soulful song that talks about how we tend to put up a front to hide our true emotions. It highlights the feelings of emptiness and grief one experiences after a break-up.
Line by Line Meaning
People say I'm the life of the party
Many people believe that I'm the most interesting person in any celebration or gathering
Because I tell a joke or two
They claim this is because I'm able to tell a few funny stories and jokes that make them laugh and relieve their stress
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Even if I show that I'm enjoying and having fun in these occasions, or even if I'm laughing out loud and with energy,
Deep inside I'm blue
The truth is that I'm very sad and depressed on the inside and I have many unresolved emotions that I'm struggling with
So take a good look at my face
If you pay attention and examine my facial expressions
You'll see my smile looks out of place
You'll notice that my smile doesn't fully connect with my true emotional state and it looks forced or unnatural
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
When you examine further or more carefully, it becomes clear or simple to follow
The tracks of my tears
The evidence of my sadness and emotional pain is visible if you pay closer attention to me
I need you, need you
I depend on you, miss you, desire and long for you
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
If you happen to come across me in the company of another woman since you left me
Seeming like I'm having fun
I might appear to be enjoying myself and experiencing pleasure or enjoyment
Although she may be cute
Even if she has some attractive qualities or physical features
She's just a substitute
She's merely a temporary stand-in or replacement for you and she doesn't fulfill me like you did
Because you're the permanent one
I consider you as the permanent or most significant partner for me, and I don't want to replace or substitute you
Outside I'm masquerading
I'm pretending or wearing a mask to cover my true feelings and to avoid showing my vulnerability and fragility
Inside my hope is fading
Inside myself, I'm experiencing a loss of positive expectation, optimism or trust, and my faith is collapsing
Just a clown oh yeah
I'm like a clown or a fool, entertaining others and making them laugh, while feeling foolish and worthless myself
Since you put me down
Ever since the moment you rejected me or broke up with me,
My smile is my make up
I use my smile to conceal or cover up my sadness and emotional pain since I can't wear real make-up to hide my true feelings
I wear since my break up with you
I've been using my smile as a mask or coping mechanism since our separation, to avoid letting others see my true emotional state
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DOLLY PARTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carulla, Francisco III V.
Tracks of My Tears
People say I'm the life of the party
Because I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I'm having fun
Although she may be cute
She's just a substitute
Because you're the permanent one
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Outside I'm masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown oh yeah
Since you put me down
My smile is my make up
I wear since my break up with you
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
Be in his Presence
For me this is The most soulful rendition of this great song
The Godblogger
Wonderful version. 😍
Corey Sheppard
Smokey himself said he was a big fan of this rendition!
Carulla, Francisco III V.
Tracks of My Tears
People say I'm the life of the party
Because I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I'm blue
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Since you left me if you see me with another girl
Seeming like I'm having fun
Although she may be cute
She's just a substitute
Because you're the permanent one
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
I need you, need you
Outside I'm masquerading
Inside my hope is fading
Just a clown oh yeah
Since you put me down
My smile is my make up
I wear since my break up with you
So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it's easy to trace
The tracks of my tears
welshnproud99
Seen gladys knight and the pips in Cardiff 2yrs ago , they are brought tears to my eyes , absolutely awsome , as good now as they all those years ago ❤
Weldon Harper
Excellent cover song by Gladys Knight and the
Pips😊
Shirley Patricia Cooper
Bought this in early 70's. Just love Gladys Knight.
TheWonderfulKushite
Another great version of a great song.
Rozenax Sax
I love love love love Gladys since forever.
POSI2
NOTHING COMPARES TO THE MIRACLES' VERSION ... ALL-TIME CLASSIC!!!