96 Tears

"96 Tears" is a song recorded by the American garage rock band ? and the Mysterians and released in August 1966 on Cameo-Parkway. It was written by the group's lead singer, "Question Mark" (aka Rudy Martinez) in 1962 in his manager's living room. Known for its signature organ licks and bare-bones lyrics, "96 Tears" is recognized as one of the first garage rock hits, and has been credited for starting the punk rock movement.
In October 1966 it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and on the RPM 100 in Canada. On November 11th 1966, the single was certified as gold by the RIAA. Billboard ranked the record as the #5 song for 1966. In 2010 it was ranked #213 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
"96 Tears" was covered by The Residents as early as 1970, with an almost unrecognizable cover included on their unreleased demo tape The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger. Another version of the song can be heard near the start of the suite "Hitler Was a Vegetarian", from the group's 1976 album The Third Reich 'n Roll.
== History ==
=== Background ===
Various reports have suggested that ? and the Mysterians' vocalist "Question Mark" first wrote "96 Tears" under the title "Too Many Teardrops", and later "69 Tears", but then changed the title, fearing that radio stations wouldn't play the song. However, Question Mark denied this in an interview, stating that the number 96 has a deep philosophical meaning for him.
The song appeared on the band's album, also titled 96 Tears. The follow-up single, "I Need Somebody", peaked at #22 later that year, but no other Top 40 singles followed.
=== The Residents' versions ===
The Residents' first known recording of "96 Tears" dates from their pre-history; a version of the song is featured on their unreleased 1970 demo tape The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger.
Their second version of the song is a short rendition featured near the beginning of the suite "Hitler Was a Vegetarian", which takes up the B-side of their third studio album The Third Reich 'n Roll, recorded in October 1975 and released on Ralph Records in February 1976. In the suite, the song segues directly into Lesley Gore's similarly tear-themed hit "It's My Party".
An edited version of the Third Reich version of the song is featured on the fourth disc of The Residents' career-spanning box set 80 Aching Orphans, released in October 2017.
== Lyrics ==
===Original version (1966)===
 Too many teardrops
 For one heart to be cryin'
 Too many teardrops
 For one heart to carry on
 You're way on top now
 Since you left me
 You're always laughin'
 Way down at me
 But watch out now
 I'm gonna get there
 We'll be together
 For just a little while
 And then I'm gonna put you
 Way down here
 And you'll start cryin'
 96 tears
 Cry
 Cry
 And when the sun comes up, I'll be on top
 You'll be right down there lookin' up
 And I might wave, come up here
 But I don't see you wavin' now
 I'm way down here wonderin' how
 I'm gonna get you, but I know now
 I'll just cry
 Cry
 I'll just cry
 Too many teardrops
 For one heart to be cryin'
 Too many teardrops
 For one heart to carry on
 You're gonna cry 96 tears
 You're gonna cry 96 tears
 You're gonna cry, cry cry cry, now
 You're gonna cry, cry cry cry
 You might also like
 96 tears, c'mon, let me hear you cry, now
 96 tears, woo, I wanna hear you cry
 Night and day, yeah, all night long
 96 tears, cry cry cry
 C'mon baby, let me hear you cry now
 All night long, 96 tears
 Yeah, c'mon now, 96 tears
== List of releases ==
* The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger (1970, unreleased) San Mateo home recording, June - September 1970
* The Third Reich 'n Roll (1976) Sycamore Street studio recording, October 1975 ("Hitler Was a Vegetarian", 0:59)
* 80 Aching Orphans (2017) Sycamore Street studio recording, October 1975 (edited version, 0:59)
==== List of versions ====
== See also ==
* ? and the Mysterians
* The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger
* "Hitler Was a Vegetarian"
== External links and references ==
* "96 Tears" at Wikipedia
* "96 Tears" at Genius
Category:Songs
Category:Covers
Category:The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger
Category:The Third Reich 'n Roll
Category:Hitler Was a Vegetarian