Tears on My Pillow
Johnny Nash Lyrics


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I can't take it
I'm so lonely
Gee I need you so

I can't take it
Oh I wonder
Why you had to go
But Baby, Every night I wake up crying
Tears on my pillow
An pain in my heart
You on my mind

I remember all the good times
That we had before
Oh I remember an now my heart
My very soul cry's out for more

But baby, all your love for me is dying
Tears on my pillow
Pain in my heart
You on my mind

I'll always remember that day
You promised to love me
You said you'd love me to the very end
And I'll never forget
I'll never forget when you walked away from me
You walked out of my life to my very best friend
Oh

Oh baby, every night I wake up crying
Tears on my pillow
Pain in my heart
You on my mind

Yeah
Tears on my pillow
Pain in my heart
You on my mind

I got tears on my pillow
Pain in my heart
You on my mind

I got tears on my pillow




Pain in my heart
An you on my mind

Overall Meaning

In Johnny Nash's classic ballad, Tears on My Pillow, the singer explores the agony of heartbreak and the lasting pain it can cause. The lyrics are a heartfelt plea for a lost love to return, the singer yearning for the love and companionship that he's lost. The chorus in particular is particularly moving, as he sings "Every night I wake up crying/Tears on my pillow/And pain in my heart/You on my mind," expressing his deep anguish at the situation.


Nash's emotive and soulful vocals lend a high level of authenticity to the lyrics, and the instrumentation is subtle yet effective. The sparse use of instruments allows the listener to focus on the lyrics and Nash's passionate vocal delivery. The use of repetition in the lyrics helps to reinforce the sense of sadness and loss, with the phrases "Tears on my pillow" and "Pain in my heart" serving as a stark reminder of the singer's ongoing distress.


The song is a classic example of a lost love ballad, and its universal themes have made it a popular choice for singers covering the song in various genres over the years. From the heart-wrenching lyrics to the soulful vocals and understated instrumentation, it's a powerful track that continues to touch hearts today.


Line by Line Meaning

I can't take it
I am unable to bear it


I'm so lonely
I feel extremely alone


Gee I need you so
I need you badly


Oh I wonder
I am puzzled


Why you had to go
Why did you have to leave me?


Every night I wake up crying
Every night I wake up in tears


Tears on my pillow
My tears are on my pillow


Pain in my heart
I am experiencing heartache


You on my mind
You are constantly on my mind


I remember all the good times
I recall all the happy moments we shared


That we had before
The moments of happiness we experienced earlier


Oh, I remember and now my heart
Now my heart recalls all that we had


My very soul cry's out for more
I crave for more, from the depth of my being


All your love for me is dying
Your love towards me is withering away


I'll always remember that day
That day will always stay in my memory


You promised to love me
You pledged to love me


You said you'd love me to the very end
You assured me of your love till the end


And I'll never forget
I will never forget


When you walked away from me
That day when you left me


You walked out of my life to my very best friend
You left me for my closest friend


Yeah, tears on my pillow
Yes, my pillow is soaked in tears


An pain in my heart
The pain in my heart is still fresh


I got tears on my pillow
My pillow is still wet with my tears


An you on my mind
You still occupy my thoughts




Lyrics © Royalty Network, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Glenroy Ernie Smith, Glenroy Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@terryhomman141

RIP JOHNNY NASH 80 years and beautiful music you gave to us.

@vickyhyde8173

He was amazing singer

@vickyhyde8173

I just found out that he's passed away

@terryhomman141

He sure was Vicky. We are loosing so many.

@vickyhyde8173

That's true xxxxxxxxx bless you

@terryhomman141

Yes Vicky that is why I posted rest in peace RIP yesterday. He was 80 years old.😥

1 More Replies...

@billie.ray.martin

Fly in bliss Johnny Nash. Best pop music ever. An underrated artist

@vanessagaskin4735

May he rest in peace

@pauldickinson6943

brilliant cover of another song.

@tonypuccio154

That’s for sure 💯🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿💯the best

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