I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry
Wynton Marsalis Lyrics


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The torch I carry is handsome
It's worth its heartache in ransom
And when the twilight steals
I know how the lady in the harbor feels

When I want rain I get sunny weather
I'm just as blue as the sky
Since love is gone can't pull myself together
Guess I'll hang my tears out to dry

Friends ask me out
I tell them I'm busy
I must get a new alibi
I stay at home and ask myself where is he
Guess I'll hang my tears out to dry

Dry little teardrops
Hanging on a string of dreams
Fly little memories
My little memories
Remind him of our crazy schemes

Somebody said just forget about him
So I gave that treatment a try
Strangely enough I got along without him




Then one day he passed me right by
Oh well I guess I'll hang my tears out to dry

Overall Meaning

In Wynton Marsalis's "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry," the singer discusses a heartache and a recent loss of love. They carry around a torch or a burden that reminds them of their relationship's demise. This torch is costly and painful, but the singer believes it is necessary to hold onto to help them process their pain. The singer longs for rain, which represents their emotions or tears, but instead, they receive sunny weather, which highlights the dissonance between their internal and external realities. They are trying to move on from their lost love, but they feel stuck and unable to do so. They cancel plans with their friends and spend time at home, ruminating on their past love and their current loneliness. The singer knows they need to let go, represented by hanging their tears out to dry, but they are unsure how to do so.


The refrain, "Guess I'll hang my tears out to dry," is a metaphor that represents the singer's attempt at detachment from their painful emotions. The singer acknowledges they cannot control the weather, which symbolizes their heartache, but they have control over their emotions' expression. By hanging their tears out to dry, they can observe and reflect on their feelings instead of becoming overwhelmed by them. This song's message is that even though heartbreak is painful, it is possible to move on by changing one's perspective and accepting the reality of the situation.


Line by Line Meaning

The torch I carry is handsome
The burden I bear for my lost love is a noble one.


It's worth its heartache in ransom
Although this burden is painful, it is precious and valuable to me.


And when the twilight steals
When the day ends and night falls,


I know how the lady in the harbor feels
I empathize with the Statue of Liberty, welcoming those who arrive with tears and hopes.


When I want rain I get sunny weather
My life may appear bright and sunny, but inside I feel sadness and loss.


I'm just as blue as the sky
I am overwhelmed by my feelings of sadness and despair.


Since love is gone can't pull myself together
My inability to move on from lost love has left me feeling helpless and lost.


Guess I'll hang my tears out to dry
I will try to let go of my sadness and move on by figuratively hanging my tears out to dry.


Friends ask me out
My friends invite me to social events.


I tell them I'm busy
I decline their invitations and use busy-ness as an excuse.


I must get a new alibi
I need to come up with a different excuse to avoid socializing with my friends.


I stay at home and ask myself where is he
I spend time alone, wondering where my lost love is and if they are thinking of me.


Dry little teardrops
The tears I have shed for lost love have dried up and become insignificant.


Hanging on a string of dreams
They are attached to memories and hopes for the future that will never come to fruition.


Fly little memories
My memories of love and happiness with my lost love are now unimportant and can be forgotten.


My little memories
Although small and seemingly insignificant, these memories hold great emotional weight for me.


Remind him of our crazy schemes
These memories evoke images of the wild and carefree times I once shared with my lost love.


Somebody said just forget about him
Someone suggested that I move on and forget about my lost love.


So I gave that treatment a try
I attempted to follow this advice and forget about my lost love.


Strangely enough I got along without him
Surprisingly, I was able to function without my lost love in my life.


Then one day he passed me right by
But when I saw my lost love again, all of my emotions came flooding back.


Oh well I guess I'll hang my tears out to dry
In the end, I am still struggling to move on and must continue to try to let go of my sadness and heartbreak.




Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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