Tears on My Sleeve

Tears on My Sleeve
words and music by Andy Campolieto

Have you heard about what I done on Avenue B.?
Seen my face on every TV set it seems
They make me out as crazy
Well, I suppose that ain't far from fact
But there's a lot more to the story than that

See, before I came to New York City
And burned up all my dreams
I was something of a legend back home
For longer than I care to know
I tried to be a star
But this guitar only got me so far
Now I'm stuck behind these bars
With my tears on my sleeve

Last fall, I rolled into town
'Cause I heard you'd moved to Queens
Seen your eyes on every playbill that I read
But I couldn't find the nerve
To let you know I'd come for you
And by the time I did
You was wearing a ring

That day you turned your back on me
Said you had to get away
Still kills me like it happened yesterday
That night I picked a bottle up
To wash it all away with gin
I lost everything that I always hoped I'd win
Now the only thing I have of yours
Are your tears on my sleeve

I was hunched up by an evergreen
They was stringing it with lights
Felt the metal in my pocket, squeezed it tight
At 8 o'clock I went inside
Sat down and looked around
It was dark, except the curtain that hung down

When you finally walked on stage
Honey, I could hardly breathe
You were prettier than anything I'd ever seen
The time had come to take stand
For once to be a man
I stood up tall with a pistol in my hand
Then I turned around to leave
With tears on my sleeve

I want you to love me
I want you to hold me tight
And tell me it'll be all right
I had my chance

But I was too slow to see
That love may linger
But the tears can't last forever