Tears Dry On Their Own – English Lyrics

• By: Amy Winehouse

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the poignant lyrics and Motown-infused melody of Amy Winehouse's “Tears Dry On Their Own,” a song about heartbreak and self-reliance. Discover how Winehouse's personal experiences shaped this track, offering listeners a glimpse into her emotional depth and musical genius. Learn about Winehouse's candid songwriting and the song's lasting impact.

[English]

♪ All I can ever be to you ♪

♪ Is a darkness that we know ♪

♪ And this regret I got accustomed to ♪

♪ Once it was so right ♪

♪ When we were at our high ♪

♪ Waiting for you 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 ♪

♪ And 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 coulda never had it all ♪

♪ We had to hit a wall ♪

♪ So this is inevitable withdrawal ♪

♪ Even if I stop wanting you ♪

♪ A perspective pushes through ♪

♪ I'll be some next man's other woman soon ♪

♪ I cannot play myself again ♪

♪ I should just be my own best friend ♪

♪ Not fuck myself 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, a blaze ♪

♪ 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 say no regrets ♪

♪ And no emotional debts ♪

♪ 'Cause as we kissed goodbye, the sun sets ♪

♪ So we are history ♪

♪ The shadow covers me ♪

♪ The sky above, a blaze ♪

♪ 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 ♪

♪ 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 ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tears /tɪərz/ A1	noun - drops of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye
dry /draɪ/ A2	adjective - free from moisture or liquid; not wet verb - to become dry
regret /rɪˈɡret/ B2	noun - a feeling of sadness or disappointment over something that has happened or been done verb - feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over (something that has happened or been done, especially a loss or mistake)
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - morally good, justified, or acceptable
high /haɪ/ A1	adjective - of great vertical extent
hotel /hoʊˈtel/ A1	noun - an establishment providing accommodation, meals, and other services for travellers and tourists
match /mætʃ/ A2	noun - a person or thing able to contend with another as an equal in quality or strength
moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ A1	noun - a very brief period of time
attached /əˈtætʃt/ B1	adjective - fond of someone or something
responsibility /rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/ B2	noun - the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone
capacity /kəˈpæsəti/ B2	noun - the ability or power to do, understand, or experience something
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth
shade /ʃeɪd/ B1	noun - relative darkness caused by the interception of light
stress /stres/ B1	verb - to give particular emphasis or importance to (a point, statement, or idea)
things /θɪŋz/ A1	noun - objects that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to
withdrawal /wɪθˈdrɔːəl/ C1	noun - the action of withdrawing something
perspective /pərˈspektɪv/ B2	noun - a particular way of considering something
friend /frend/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/ A2	noun - a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface
blaze /bleɪz/ B2	noun - a very large or fiercely burning fire
debts /dets/ B1	noun - something, typically money, that is owed or due

Key Grammar Structures

• All I can ever *be* to you

  ➔ Modal verb + infinitive without 'to'

  ➔ The modal verb 'can' is followed by the base form of the verb 'be'. Modal verbs like *can*, *could*, *may*, *might*, *will*, *would*, *should*, and *must* are always followed by the infinitive without 'to'.

• And this regret I got accustomed *to*

  ➔ Past tense; preposition at the end of the clause

  ➔ The phrase "got accustomed to" uses the past tense form of "get" to describe a past habit or state. The preposition "to" is placed at the end of the clause, which is common in informal English but can be avoided by rephrasing.

• We *coulda* never had it all

  ➔ Contraction of 'could have'; conditional perfect aspect

  ➔ "Coulda" is a colloquial contraction of "could have". "Could have + past participle" indicates a missed opportunity or a hypothetical past situation that did not happen. The full sentence is "We could have never had it all,", meaning it was impossible for them to have everything.

• So this is inevitable *withdrawal*

  ➔ Noun as a complement

  ➔ Here, the noun "withdrawal" functions as a complement to the subject "this". It renames or describes the subject, completing the meaning of the sentence. The structure is: Subject + Linking Verb + Subject Complement.

• Even if I stop *wanting* you

  ➔ Gerund after 'stop'

  ➔ The verb "stop" can be followed by either a gerund (verb + -ing) or an infinitive (to + verb). When followed by a gerund, it means to cease the activity. "Stop wanting" means to cease the act of wanting.

• I *should* just be my own best friend

  ➔ Modal verb 'should' expressing advice or recommendation

  ➔ The modal verb "should" is used to express advice, recommendation, or obligation. In this sentence, it conveys the speaker's advice to herself that she ought to prioritize her own well-being.

• Not fuck myself in the head with stupid men

  ➔ Infinitive phrase with negative imperative force

  ➔ While grammatically an infinitive phrase, this line functions as a strong imperative to oneself. The "not" negates the action described by the infinitive, creating a forceful prohibition. The omission of a subject (like "I") makes it more direct and impactful.