People say I’m the life of the party/
Because I tell a joke or two.

“Tracks of My Tears” has to have of the best opening lines to a song in pop/rock history. Smokey Robinson is heartbroken because his girl broke up with him. He tries to put on a happy face, but he admits it is all a façade; he feels horrible. If you look really closely you’ll see the tracks of his tears. (Get it–the tears running down his face leave a figurative or literal mark).

He is surviving though…he is still going to parties, having fun with other girls…he is just not happy about it. Exploring options with other women sounds like the healthiest way to get over a heartbreak.

This song came out in ’65 and is a good example of where pop music was at the time. It was pure. Compare that to where Rock was at that time and it is such a huge disparity. Around this time Gracie Slick was writing White Rabbit; the gulf between rock and pop was never greater than during this time. Both traditions produced lasting classics.

Lyrics 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.

Songwriters: Marvin Tarplin / Smokey Robinson / Warren Moore / William Robinson Jr.

Just let me grieve in private/
Cause each time I see you I cry.
Just walk on by.

Here we are introduced to Burt Bacharach: every person on earth has heard his songs-and loves them- but very few know his name. This song was written within a year of the #500 song, The Beatles “And I Love Her”. I would argue that during the early to mid sixties we see the greatest gap between pop music and rock. What the Beatles and The Rolling Stones were doing was so different from this, but sometimes we underrate the pop from this period.

In “Walk On By”, the melody in the verse, chorus, bridge and outro are all unique yet they blend well. Each could almost be a song of its own. The message is a simple one: I am prideful. If you see me and I start to cry don’t comfort me- just keep walking.

Dionne Warwick’s voice is subtle compared to some of her R&B peers and that allows us to really focus on the excellence of the composition. Note it is the background singers who bring the typical early 60s, fiery R&B vocals in this song. They sound like her friends yelling at the guy: “Don’t stop!”

Also, a here we have a very unique and effective use of a muted trumpet.

Lyrics Walk on By

If you see me walking down the street
And I start to cry each time we meet
Walk on by, walk on by

Make believe
That you don’t see the tears
Just let me grieve
In private ’cause each time I see you
I break down and cry
And walk on by (don’t stop)
And walk on by (don’t stop)
And walk on by

I just can’t get over losing you
And so if I seem broken and blue
Walk on by, walk on by

Foolish pride
Is all that I have left
So let me hide
The tears and the sadness you gave me
When you said goodbye
Walk on by (don’t stop)
Walk on by (don’t stop)
Walk on by (don’t stop)
Walk on

Walk on by
Walk on by
Foolish pride
Is all that I have left
So let me hide
The tears and the sadness you gave me
When you said goodbye
Walk on by (don’t stop)
And walk on by (don’t stop)
Now you really gotta go so walk on by (don’t stop)
If you leave you’ll never see the tears I cry
Now you really gotta go so walk on by (don’t stop)

Songwriters: Burt Bacharach / Hal David / Martin Peter Harrington / Ash Howes / Jim Duguid / Jill Jackson