Berry Gordy’s Motown Records didn’t just define a sound in the 1960s; it built an empire on a remarkably consistent stream of hits. While Gordy himself initially played a significant role in songwriting, the label’s success ultimately rested on the shoulders of a talented roster of composers. Among the most prolific of these was Smokey Robinson, a performer and songwriter whose contributions were, and remain, foundational to the Motown legacy.
Robinson, leading The Miracles, penned or co-wrote 79 hits, surpassing even the celebrated Holland-Dozier-Holland team in sheer volume. But it was a single released in 1965, “The Tracks of My Tears,” that stands as perhaps his most enduring achievement. The song, a masterclass in emotional subtlety, became a defining track of Motown’s golden age, resonating with listeners across generations.
Interestingly, despite its lasting impact, “The Tracks of My Tears” didn’t immediately dominate the charts. It peaked at number 16 in the US, a relatively modest showing for a Motown release. However, its cultural resonance proved far greater, earning the admiration of artists as diverse as Linda Ronstadt and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones.
The song’s power lies in its lyrical depth, a quality that set it apart from some of Motown’s more straightforward expressions of heartbreak. Robinson managed to convey a profound sense of sadness masked by a facade of cheerfulness, a theme that continues to resonate with audiences today. The concept, however, didn’t arrive through meticulous planning or deep introspection.
As Robinson recounted in a 2023 interview with CBS News, the song’s genesis was surprisingly accidental. He initially struggled with the chorus, having written the opening lines – “Take a good look at my face, see my smile looks out of place, if you look closer it’s easier to trace” – but finding himself stuck on what to trace. He cycled through numerous possibilities before a breakthrough came during a mundane morning routine. “One morning, just by chance, I was shaving, and – somehow or other – the thought just came to me, ‘What if somebody had cried so much their tears left tracks on their face?’ I said, ‘That’s it.’”
The lyric, born from a fleeting thought, unlocked the song’s emotional core and cemented its place in the Motown canon. The song’s intro, featuring distinctive guitar licks by Marv Tarplin, is also considered among the most famous in pop music history. Tarplin initially developed the musical foundation for the song, which Robinson and Pete Moore then built upon.
“The Tracks of My Tears” has received numerous accolades over the years, including induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It was also ranked at number 127 on the Recording Industry Association of America and The National Endowment for the Arts’ list of “The 365 Greatest Songs of the 20th Century,” and landed at number 50 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” In 2021, Rolling Stone went even further, declaring it “The Greatest Motown Song of All Time.”
Robinson himself acknowledged the challenge of originality in songwriting, stating in a 1989 interview with Billboard: “Once I learned how to write songs, I recognized the fact that there are no new words. There are also no new notes on the piano or guitar. And there are really no new ideas. So you have to work within the framework of what’s been going on for thousands of years since language began. You have to work within that parameter. So the trick for me was to try and say the same thing differently.”
“The Tracks of My Tears” exemplifies this philosophy. While the theme of heartbreak is universal, Robinson’s lyrical approach and the song’s nuanced emotional landscape elevated it beyond a simple pop song. It’s a testament to his skill as a songwriter and a reminder of the enduring power of Motown’s music. The song’s success wasn’t just about crafting a catchy tune; it was about tapping into a universal human experience and expressing it in a way that felt both fresh and deeply relatable.
Today, February 4, 2026, “The Tracks of My Tears” continues to be celebrated as a cornerstone of American popular music, a song that transcends generations and remains a poignant reminder of the power of vulnerability and the enduring legacy of Motown Records.
