96 Tears

Original ? and the Mysterians 7" single A-side label, August 1966

"**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)
* *The Third Reich 'n Roll* (1976)
* *80 Aching Orphans* (2017)

#### List of versions

1. ↑ San Mateo home recording, June - September 1970
2. ↑ Sycamore Street studio recording, October 1975 ("Hitler Was a Vegetarian", 0:59)
3. ↑ Sycamore Street studio recording, October 1975 (edited version, 0:59)

## 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

**Side A**
"Satisfaction" · "**96 Tears**" · "Let It Be" · "The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger" · "Untitled Instrumental #1" · "Ecological Blues"
**Side B**
"Summertime" · "Untitled Instrumental #2" · "House of the Rising Sun" · "Summertime" (reprise) · "The Ballad of Stuffed Trigger" (reprise) · "Untitled Instrumental #3"
**Personnel**
The Delta Nudes · Roland Sheehan · Palmer Eiland
**Related works**
"I Hear Ya Got Religion" · "Moonman" · *Rusty Coathangers for the Doctor* · *ERA B474* · *The Delta Nudes' Greatest Hiss*
**Related articles**
"When Johnny Comes Marching" · "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" · *The W\*\*\*\*\* B\*\*\* Album* · San Mateo apartment · The Rolling Stones · George Gershwin · The Beatles

**Side A:** **"Swastikas on Parade"**
"Let's Twist Again" · "Land of a Thousand Dances" · "Hanky Panky" · "A Horse With No Name" · "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" · "The Letter" · "Psychotic Reaction" · "Little Girl" · "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" · "Talk Talk" · "I Want Candy" · "To Sir With Love" · "Telstar" · "Wipe Out" · "Heroes and Villains"
**Side B:** **"Hitler Was a Vegetarian"**
"Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" · "**96 Tears**" · "It's My Party" · "Light My Fire" · "Ballad of the Green Berets" · "Yummy Yummy Yummy" · "Rock Around the Clock" · "Pushin' Too Hard" · "Good Lovin'" · "Gloria" · "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" · "Sunshine of Your Love" · "Hey Jude" · "Sympathy for the Devil"
**Personnel**
The Residents · Pamela Zeibak · Margaret Smyk (as Peggy Honeydew) · Gary Phillips
**Related works**
"Wooly Bully" · "Satisfaction" · *The Beatles Play The Residents and The Residents Play The Beatles* · *German Slide Music* · Oh Mummy! show · *The Third Reich 'n Roll* video · Collectors' Box series · "Double Shot" · *Icky Flix* (soundtrack) · *I Am A Resident!* · Dog Stab!
**Related articles**
Residents, Uninc. · Sycamore St. studio · Ralph Records · *Vileness Fats* · The Cryptic Corporation · Porno/Graphics · Collectors' Box series · Dick Clark · James Brown · The Rolling Stones · The Beatles