How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?
| "How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by The Beautiful South | ||||
| from the album Quench | ||||
| Released | 1999 (UK) | |||
| Format | CD single | |||
| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 3:20 | |||
| The Beautiful South singles chronology | ||||
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"How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" is a single by British pop group The Beautiful South from their album "Quench". It was written by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray. The lyrics, which take the form of a conversation between two reconciling lovers, are noted for a reference to the TARDIS from Doctor Who. According to the book Last Orders at the Liars Bar: the Official Story of the Beautiful South, "How Long's A Tear Take To Dry?" was originally to be called "She Bangs the Buns" due to its chord structure reminiscent of Manchester's The Stone Roses.
"How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" reached number 12 in the UK Singles Chart in March 1999. Although not released on vinyl, it was given a dual-CD release in the UK. B-sides included a remix of "How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" as well as acoustic versions of three other songs: "Perfect 10", "Big Coin", and "Rotterdam". On 18 March 1999 the band performed "How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" live on the BBC's music programme, Top of the Pops.
The video, available on The Beautiful South's compilation DVD Munch, is a humorous account of The Beautiful South on a world tour in order to pay for drinks at the local bar. The band is portrayed by cartoon versions of themselves, in a style reminiscent of 1960s-era Hanna-Barbera cartoons, and Scooby-Doo in particular. In the commentary track on the Munch DVD, Paul Heaton explains that the video was actually produced by Hanna-Barbera.
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