Rock and Roll

This is one of the golden oldies that makes 1950s music so interesting, as artists pioneer new styles that cross the charts. “Lonely Teardrops” expresses a universal situation where sometimes we need “another chance for our romance.” The song was written by Berry Gordy, Gwendolyn Gordy (Berry’s sister), and Tyran Carlo (the pseudonym of Roquel “Billy” Davis, Jackie Wilson’s cousin). It was released in 1958 and went to #7 on the U.S. Pop Chart and #1 on the US R&B Chart. It became one of Wilson’s signature songs.

Jack Leroy “Jackie”  Wilson, Jr., was born in Detroit on June 9, 1934. Wilson had more than 50 hit singles in many genres, including R&B, rock and roll, pop, and soul.  His musical pioneering and dynamic performing style influenced generations of artists. Wilson combined a beautiful, clear voice with his own style of athletic dance moves and always gave an incredible performance, which made him  known as “Mr. Excitement.” On September 29, 1975, while singing “Lonely Teardrops” at Dick Clark’s Gold Ol’ Rock and Roll Revue in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Jackie Wilson had a heart attack and collapsed on stage. He was in a coma and then a semi-comatose state for many years, until his death in 1984.

Here are the lyrics to “Lonely Teardrops” by Jackie Wilson:

(Shoo bee doo bop, bop, bow)
(Shoo bee doo bop, bop, bow)
(Shoo bee doo bop, bop, bow)

My heart is crying, crying
Lonely teardrops,
My pillow’s never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(Say you will) say you will, (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)
My heart is crying, crying

Lonely teardrops
My pillow’s never dry of lonely teardrops
Come home, come home
Just say you will, say you will
(Say you will) say you will, (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)

Just give me another chance for our romance
Come on and tell me that one day you’ll return.
‘Cause, every day that you’ve been gone away,
You know my heart does nothing but burn, crying

Lonely teardrops
My pillow’s never dry of lonely teardrops.
Come home, come home.
Just say you will, say you will
(Say you will) say you will, (say you will)
Hey, hey (say you will)
Say it right now, baby
(Say you will) Come on, come on
(Say you will) Say that you
Say it right now, baby
(Say you will) Come on, come on
(Say you will) Hey come on”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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