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 | released = November 26, 1996<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/lawrence_tracy/542692/album.jhtml |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-09-16 |archive-date=2007-11-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102173345/http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/lawrence_tracy/542692/album.jhtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> | recorded = 1995 | studio = | venue = | genre = Country | length = 3:18 | label = Atlantic | writer = John Jarrard<br />Kenny Beard | producer = Tracy Lawrence<br />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.<ref name="whitburn">{{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}}</ref>

==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<br />position |- {{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=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !scope="col"|Chart (1997) !scope="col"|Position |- | Canada Country Tracks (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.7902&type=1&interval=24|title=RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1997|work=RPM|date=December 15, 1997|access-date=July 17, 2013}}</ref> | align="center" | 30 |- | US Country Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1997/hot-country-songs| title=Best of 1997: Country Songs | magazine=Billboard | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | date=1997| access-date=July 17, 2013}}</ref> | align="center" | 36 |}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Is That A Tear}} Category:1996 songs Category:Tracy Lawrence songs Category:1996 singles Category:Songs written by John Jarrard Category:Atlantic Records singles Category:Songs written by Kenny Beard