Is That a Tear
{{Infobox song
| name = Is That a Tear
| cover = Is That a Tear.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Tracy Lawrence
| album = Time Marches On
| recorded = 1995
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Country
| length = 3:18
| label = Atlantic
| writer = John Jarrard
Kenny Beard
| producer = Tracy Lawrence
Flip Anderson
| prev_title = Stars over Texas
| prev_year = 1996
| next_title = Better Man, Better Off
| next_year = 1997
}}
"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.{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}
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 premiered on CMT on November 28, 1996. Beginning with the ending of the video for "Texas Tornado", then it leads into Lawrence driving a taxicab, and helping a woman follow a group of men for an undisclosed purpose. It was the last video to feature Lawrence's trademark mullet and mustache, which he sported from 1991 to 1996.
Chart positions
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1996–1997) !Peak |
| {{singlechart|Canadacountry|1|chartid=9810|publishdate=February 10, 1997|accessdate=July 17, 2013}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardbubbling100|4|artist=Tracy Lawrence}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|2|artist=Tracy Lawrence}} |
=Year-end charts=
References
{{reflist}}
{{Tracy Lawrence}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Is That A Tear}}
Category:Songs written by John Jarrard