All I can ever be to you is a darkness that we knew
And this regret I got accustomed to
Once it was so right
When we were at our height
Waiting for ya in the hotel at night
I knew I hadn't met my match
But every moment we could snatch
I don't know why I got so attached
It's my responsibility
You don't owe nothing to me
But to walk away, I have no capacity

He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
And in your way
In this blue shade
My tears dry on their own

I don't understand
Why do I stress the man
When there's so many bigger things at hand?
We could've never had it all
We had to hit a wall
So this is inevitable withdrawal
Even if I stop wanting you
And perspective pushes through
I'll be some next man's other woman soon
I cannot play my self again
I should just be my own best friend
Not fuck my self in the head with stupid men

He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
And in your way
In this blue shade
My tears dry on their own

So we are history
Your shadow covers me
The sky above ablaze

He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown
And in your way
In this blue shade
My tears dry on their own

I wish I could sing no regrets
And no emotional debt
'Cause as we kissed goodbye, the sun sets
So we are history
Your shadow covers me
The sky above ablaze
That only lovers see

He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown (I'm grown)
And in your way
My blue shade
My tears dry on their own

Whoa, he walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I am grown
And in your way
My deep shade
My tears dry on their own, whoa

He walks away
The sun goes down
He takes the day, but I'm grown
And in your way
My deep shade
My tears dry


Lyrics submitted by voltaire7

Tears Dry On Their Own Lyrics as written by Valerie Simpson Amy Winehouse

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Tears Dry On Their Own song meanings
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58 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment

    ". . . and she's left to dry her own tears."

    I see an image even sadder than that. She doesn't bother to dry her own tears -- they dry on their own with her makeup streaming down her face. I agree it's about being the other woman. But, moreover, it's about going into a sexual relationship just for kicks with someone you know you can never have a future with, then, inadvertently falling so in love with him you can't even see the sun in the sky when he's not around. It is such a beautifully written song. So descriptive . . . If you haven't been there (though I'm sure quite a few of us have), you certainly know how it would feel after listening to this song. I think it's one of the best on the album.

    crabbygrrlon April 08, 2007   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    I don't know why no one commented on this one. Personally it's my favorite on the album. I love it. And her.

    whatevercakeson March 27, 2007   Link
  • +4
    Song Meaning

    If you listen to the track "back to black" you can see there is a theme at work here on the album. I have to confess I identifed with this song because I have played the male role in this scenario. And it's not as one sided as the song suggests. It's painful for everyone. I relate to everything in this song, the redezvous scenarios, the secretive nature of the relationship, cheating, sneaking around whatever you want to call it, the inevitabile termination. It's forbidden, but not what you'd call "unrequited love." It's temporary and you both know it. It's deep, and way complicated. Very emotional, jarring and the pain lasts a long long time. Once was enough for me. My favorite track by far on the album.

    whostearson June 22, 2011   Link
  • +4
    Song Meaning

    All I can ever be to you Is a darkness that we knew And this regret I got accustomed to

    <b><i>She is remorseful that all she'll be to him is a bootycall.</b></i>

    Once it was so right When we were at our height Waiting for you in the hotel at night

    <b><i> When they were at their most hot and heavy (euphoric and/or intense) stage their sneaking around felt right for her. She would eagerly wait in a hotel for him to sneak out on his significant other in the middle of the night.</b></i>

    I knew I hadn't met my match With every moment we could snatch I don't know why I got so attached

    <b><i>She knew he wasn't the right man for her but she still fell for him anyways and didn't know why.</b></i>

    It's my responsibility And you don't owe nothing to me But to walk away I have no capacity

    <b><i>She's been through the affair/jumpoff/bootycall/mistress position before and takes responsibility for falling for him though it was supposed to be casual. She knows it was just no strings attached but she couldn't believe he just dropped her without a second thought and/or explanation </b></i>

    He walks away, the sun goes down He takes the day but I'm grown And in your way, in this blue shade My tears dry on their own

    <b><i>She thought of him as the highlight in her life that made her happy and when he walked away she became depressed. But she keeps telling herself she's an adult woman who's been through this and she will dry her own tears. </b></i>

    I don't understand Why do I stress the man When there's so many real good things at hand?

    <b><i>She has a tendency of chasing away men because of her neediness and probably clings on or starts fights.</b></i>

    We could have never had it all And we had to hit a wall So this is inevitable withdrawal

    <b><i>She recognizes that this was a relationship that was going nowhere because he wasn't going to leave his wife or significant other. She also recognizes that men are addictions for her and she's going through withdrawals from her latest failed situation.</b></i>

    Even if I stop wanting you A perspective pushes through: I'll be some next man's other woman soon

    <b><i>She realizes that if she moved on from him she would end up in the same situation. She has a cycle of always being the mistress and never the one and only.</b></i>

    I cannot blame myself again I should just be my own best friend Not fuck myself in the head with stupid men

    <b><i>She's done beating herself up and realizes she needs to love herself rather than look for love in all the wrong places...

    The rest is self-explanatory</b></i>

    He walks away, the sun goes down He takes the day but I'm grown And in your grey, in this blue shade My tears dry on their own

    So we are history Your shadow covers me The sky above, a blaze

    He walks away, the sun goes down He takes the day but I'm grown And in your grey, in this blue shade My tears dry on their own

    I wish I could say no regrets And no emotional debts Cos as we kiss goodbye the sun sets

    So we are history Your shadow covers me The sky above, a blaze lonely lovers see

    All I can ever be to you Is a darkness that we knew And this regret I got accustomed to

    <b><i>She is remorseful that all she'll be to him is a bootycall.</b></i>

    Once it was so right When we were at our height Waiting for you in the hotel at night

    <b><i> When they were at their most hot and heavy (euphoric and/or intense) stage their sneaking around felt right for her. She would eagerly wait in a hotel for him to sneak out on his significant other in the middle of the night.</b></i>

    I knew I hadn't met my match With every moment we could snatch I don't know why I got so attached

    <b><i>She knew he wasn't the right man for her but she still fell for him anyways and didn't know why.</b></i>

    It's my responsibility And you don't owe nothing to me But to walk away I have no capacity

    <b><i>She's been through the affair/jumpoff/bootycall/mistress position before and takes responsibility for falling for him though it was supposed to be casual. She knows it was just no strings attached but she couldn't believe he just dropped her without a second thought and/or explanation </b></i>

    He walks away, the sun goes down He takes the day but I'm grown And in your way, in this blue shade My tears dry on their own

    <b><i>She thought of him as the highlight in her life that made her happy and when he walked away she became depressed. But she keeps telling herself she's an adult woman who's been through this and she will dry her own tears. </b></i>

    I don't understand Why do I stress the man When there's so many real good things at hand?

    <b><i>She has a tendency of chasing away men because of her neediness and probably clings on or starts fights.</b></i>

    We could have never had it all And we had to hit a wall So this is inevitable withdrawal

    <b><i>She recognizes that this was a relationship that was going nowhere because he wasn't going to leave his wife or significant other. She also recognizes that men are addictions for her and she's going through withdrawals from her latest failed situation.</b></i>

    Even if I stop wanting you A perspective pushes through: I'll be some next man's other woman soon

    <b><i>She realizes that if she moved on from him she would end up in the same situation. She has a cycle of always being the mistress and never the one and only.</b></i>

    I cannot blame myself again I should just be my own best friend Not fuck myself in the head with stupid men

    <b><i>She's done beating herself up and realizes she needs to love herself rather than look for love in all the wrong places...

    The rest is self-explanatory</b></i>

    He walks away, the sun goes down He takes the day but I'm grown And in your way, in this blue shade My tears dry on their own

    So we are history Your shadow covers me The sky above, a blaze

    He walks away, the sun goes down He takes the day but I'm grown And in your grey, in this blue shade My tears dry on their own

    I wish I could say no regrets And no emotional debts Cos as we kiss goodbye the sun sets

    So we are history Your shadow covers me The sky above, a blaze lonely lovers see

    He walks away, the sun goes down He takes the day but I'm grown And in your way, in this blue shade My tears dry on their own

    <b><i>She wishes she could be ok with this but she regrets getting involved and giving her heart. They're over and his memory is a shadow that overwhelms her into a deep depression. She is alone. </b></i>

    clarcoronaon March 29, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    What a voice she had!

    darkfruitson February 17, 2013   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    the music is basically Ain't No Mountain High Enough, right?

    jolietjakemcflyon April 09, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    That is my favorite part of this whole song...

    I cannot play myself agian Should be my own best Friend Not Fuck myself in the head with Stupid Men!!!

    Awesome way to put things!!!! I absolutely love Amy Winehouse i just started to listen to her but everything she writes i feel like i've been through...

    abenatmon May 20, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Rest peacefully Amy, what a tragic tragic waste.

    This was always my favourite song of hers, it's helped me get over many a painful break up.

    Izzy85on July 23, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think it's about how two people meet but one (lets say the guy) already has someone but still starts something and then they have to sneak around in a hotel.... 'is a darkness that we knew' so they only saw eachother to have fun wink wink....lol but then the girl starts falling for him and then he does too but she understands that nothing can come of it so is telling him not to worry... and then he eventually goes back to the other girl and she's left to dry her own tears.

    simple84on April 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song.

    It's about being the other woman obviously.

    HeavensToBetsyon April 06, 2007   Link

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