Is That a Tear

"Is That a Tear" is a song written by John Jarrard and Kenny Beard, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released on November 26, 1996 as the fourth and final single from his album Time Marches On. It peaked at number two on the United States Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart, while it was a number-one hit in Canada.[2]

"Is That a Tear"
Single by Tracy Lawrence
from the album Time Marches On
ReleasedNovember 26, 1996[1]
Recorded1995
GenreCountry
Length3:18
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)John Jarrard
Kenny Beard
Producer(s)Tracy Lawrence
Flip Anderson
Tracy Lawrence singles chronology
"Stars over Texas"
(1996)		 "Is That a Tear"
(1996)		 "Better Man, Better Off"
(1997)

Content

"Is That a Tear" is a mid-tempo song prominently featuring the fiddle and steel guitar. It begins when the narrator finds an unexpected message on his phone from an estranged lover. In the message, she says she's sorry she missed him and that she's doing fine. He plays the message over and over again, swearing he heard sadness and regret, or "a tear" in her voice. The song ends with the narrator contemplating whether he should call her back.

Music video

The music video was directed by Marc Ball, and is one of many music videos Lawrence filmed in the mid 1990s that featured a "quantum leap" theme (with Marc Ball as director). Beginning with the ending of the video for "Texas Tornado," it features Lawrence driving a taxicab, and helping a woman follow a group of men for an undisclosed purpose. It was also the last video to feature Lawrence's trademark mullet and mustache, which he sported from the beginning of his career in 1991 to approximately 1996.

Chart positions
Chart (1996-1997) Peak
position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[3] 1
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[4] 4
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[5] 2

Year-end charts
Chart (1997) Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[6] 30
US Country Songs (Billboard)[7] 36

References
  1. http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/lawrence_tracy/542692/album.jhtml
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. ISBN 0-89820-177-2.
  3. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 9810." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. February 10, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  4. "Tracy Lawrence Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. "Tracy Lawrence Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
  6. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1997". RPM. December 15, 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  7. "Best of 1997: Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
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