Oscar Winning Tears (song)

* Album
* Live

**"Oscar Winning Tears"** (stylized with a full stop at the end) is the second track on RAYE's debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues, released on February 3, 2023, independently and distributed by Human Re Sources.

On October 16, 2023, the live version of this song was released as the second track on RAYE' live album, My 21st Century Symphony., performed with The Heritage Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall on September 26, 2023.

## Background

The song was performed several times on the Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent Tour by Lewis Capaldi, where Keen was the opening act.

On the Spotify Storyline for the song, the British singer revealed which was the purpose of the track by saying:

“*This is about a man who put me through hell, and then proceeded to cry about it. I wanted to create a big dramatic classic feeling record with live strings to capture the audacity of his silly tears, to feel powerful whilst telling this story*”
―via Spotify Storyline
While breaking down the meanings of the whole record, Keen commented the story behind the track and how the song evolved through time exclusively for Apple Music.

“*The version you hear now has really taken on its own form since the original demo. When the situation with the spiking happened [RAYE’s drink was spiked by a man she knew and trusted], the man was just crying tears in my face. He was the victim. I was like, ‘Wow, I have a song for this!’ It was liberating. And when we finished it, I knew this had to be the start. I think the initial concept and then the story ended up just merging so perfectly into just a beautiful piece of medicine for me.*”
―via Apple Music
## Lyrics

Hello, it's RAYE here

Please, get nice and comfortable and lock your phones

Because the story is about to begin (uh)

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna tell you 'bout

One of the many men, name is irrelevant, height is irrelevant

He was a one out of a ten, I wish that I knew it then

I'm still recovering

Truly, I'm vulnerable, I love a sentiment

Quickly I opened up, I learned my lesson then

Thought I was safe again, thought he was innocent

I was so wrong

I can't deny

I was stuck in the daze, terrible phase

You was convincing, though

Very believable, the role that you played

So I'll take this front row seat

And, baby, baby, you can go ahead

Cry those Oscar-winning tears

Popcorn and I scream

Baby, baby, you can go ahead

Cry those Oscar winning tears, baby, hmm

Oh, what a tragedy, it didn't have to be

Look how you talk to me, cursing and blasphemy

Cinematography, get this on camera, please

Or no one gon' believe this here

I can't deny

I thought you were the man, but you had a plan

The fuck you lying for? Fuck you crying for?

You did it again (yeah, ah-ah-ah)

So I'll take this front row seat

And baby, baby, you can go ahead

Cry those Oscar-winning tears

Popcorn and I scream

Baby, baby, you can go ahead

Cry those Oscar winning (tears) tears, baby

You can miss me with the bullshit

I can see right through your (tears) tears, baby

Nine o'clock entertainment

Oh, man, I wish I could tape it

Sit down, no tissues

No string section, no tiny violin

For the last time, I'm your audience

I'll take this front row seat

And baby, baby, you can go ahead and cry those, baby

And baby, baby, baby, would you really go ahead?

And would you go ahead and just cry, cry, cry? (Tears, baby)

C-cry those Oscar (Oscar) winning (winning) tears (tears), baby

(Tears, baby, go ahead, cry those Oscar-winning–)

And after his Oscar-winning performance

I left the room and never saw him again

### Live at Royal Albert Hall recording

Are you fuckin' jokin'?

Let's go, oh my God, hmm

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna tell you 'bout

One of the many men, name is irrelevant, height is irrelevant

He was a one out of a ten, I wish that I knew it then

I'm still recoverin', uh

Truly I'm vulnerable, I love a sentiment

Quickly I opened up, I learned my lesson then

Thought I was safe again, thought he was innocent

I was so wrong

I can't deny, I was stuck in a daze

A terrible phase

You was convincing though, very believable

The role that you played

So I'll take this front row seat

And, baby, baby, you can go ahead

Cry those Oscar-winnin' tears

Popcorn and I scream, yes

Baby, baby, you can go ahead

Cry those Oscar-winnin' tear-tear-tears

Oh, what a tragedy, it didn't have to be

Look how you talk to me, cursin' and blasphemy

Cinematography, get this on camera, please

Or no one gon' believe this here

No, I can't deny (I can't deny)

I thought that you were the man (I thought you were the man)

But you had a plan

The fuck are you lyin' for?

Fuck are you cryin' for?

You did it again (Ah, ah, ah)

So I'll take this front row seat, babe

And, baby, baby, you can go ahead

Cry those Oscar-winnin' tears

Popcorn and I scream, yes

Baby, baby, you can go ahead

Cry those Oscar-winnin' tears

Tear-tear-tears, tear-tear-tear-tear-tears

You can miss me with the bullshit

'Cause I can see right through your tears

Nine o'clock entertainment

Oh, man, I wish I could tape it

Sit down, no tissues

No string section, no tiny violin

For the last time, I'm your audience

I'll take this front row seat

And, baby, baby, you can go ahead

And cry those

Do-do-do, baby, go ahead

Cry those Oscar-winnin' tears, babe

Baby, babe, yeah

Would you go ahead?

Cry those Oscar-winnin' tears

## Personnel and credits

Taken from the My 21st Century Blues CD booklet:

* Written By: Raye and Mike Sabath
* Produced By: Mike Sabath
* Vocals: Raye
* Main Engineer: Mike Sabath
* Vocal Engineer: Jenna Felsenthal
* String Engineer: Adam Krevlin
* Piano, Bass, Drums and Synths: Mike Sabath
* Strings (Cello): Jacob Braun
* Strings (Violin): Paul Cartwright
* String Arrangement: Mike Sabath

## Gallery

RAYE - Oscar Winning Tears. (Visualizer)Official Visualizer
## References

1. ↑ "RAYE - Oscar Winning Tears [Live]". *YouTube*.
2. ↑ "Oscar Winning Tears." by RAYE on Spotify.
3. ↑ ‎"My 21st Century Blues" by RAYE on Apple Music.