He’s the "Keep Your Head Up" guy. The "Honey, I’m Good" guy. For a solid decade, Andy Grammer has been the human embodiment of a golden retriever—all smiles, high energy, and relentlessly positive pop hooks that you can’t get out of your head even if you try.
But then 2023 happened. Specifically, January 13, 2023.
That’s when he dropped a track called Andy Grammer These Tears, and honestly, it caught a lot of us off guard. It wasn't the usual "get up and dance" vibe. It was heavy. It was raw. It felt like watching a friend finally stop pretending they’re okay and just break down in the middle of a kitchen.
The Story Behind the Salt
Grief is a weird thing. It’s not a straight line.
Grammer wrote this one with Jake Torrey and Tone, and if you listen closely, you can hear the shift in his perspective. He’s always been open about losing his mother, Kathy, back when he was 25. That loss has been a shadow over his entire career, even the upbeat parts. But "These Tears" isn't just about the fact that she’s gone. It’s about the exhausting, daily work of letting go.
He’s gone on record saying that he thrives on hard work. Tell him to run ten miles? He’ll do it. Tell him to write a hundred songs? He’s on it. But you can't "crush" grief. You can't outrun it.
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"These Tears" is basically an admission that he tried to "achieve" his way out of sadness and failed. The song treats crying not as a sign of defeat, but as a necessary release. It’s like a pressure valve.
Why "These Tears" Is Still Relevant in 2026
You might think a song from a few years ago would fade, but this track has staying power because it’s so uncomfortably honest. In his more recent 2024 album, Monster, and the subsequent 2025 Friends & Family Sessions, you can see the DNA of this song everywhere.
Grammer’s music has moved into this "Americana-pop" space where the mandolin does a lot of the heavy lifting. Why the mandolin? Because it sounds a bit more grounded. A bit more "real."
When he performed "Save A Spot In The Back For Me" or "Magic" during his 2025 tour, fans were still shouting for the lyrics to "These Tears." It’s become a bit of an anthem for the "optimistic but grieving" crowd. It turns out, people don't just want to be told to keep their head up—sometimes they want someone to sit in the dirt with them.
What the Lyrics are Actually Saying
If you look at the chorus, it’s remarkably simple.
- "These tears mean I’m letting you go."
- "I’m learning how to be alone."
- "I’m broken but give it time."
There’s no "but it’s all fine right now" pivot. It’s just "I’m gonna be alright... eventually." That distinction matters. Most pop songs rush to the resolution. This one lingers in the middle of the mess.
The music video, directed by Cooper Davidson, hammers this home. Grammer goes back to a childhood home. It’s a literal house of memories. Seeing a grown man standing in a room that feels like a ghost of his past—it’s a lot.
The "Nice Guy" Evolution
Let's be real: Andy Grammer gets a lot of flak. If you spend five minutes on certain corners of the internet, people call his music "corporate" or "Target background music."
And look, I get it. He's catchy. He's clean.
But "These Tears" was the moment he started to dismantle that "toxic positivity" label. He started talking about therapy. He started talking about the "monster" inside (hence the 2024 album title). He realized that being a "nice guy" doesn't mean you don't have static or anger or deep-seated sorrow.
By the time he hit his 2025 tour dates—from the Orpheum in New Orleans to the O2 in London—the setlist reflected this. He wasn't just the guy with the hat and the grin anymore. He was a 40-year-old man who had seen some "real stuff," as he puts it.
How to Actually Use This Song
If you’re going through it right now, don't just listen to this on repeat and wallow. Use it as a tool. Grammer often talks about "daily release in small doses."
- Acknowledge the Burn: Letting go isn't a one-time event. It’s a slow burn.
- Stop "Crushing" It: You can’t win at mourning. If you’re feeling broken, let the clock run for a bit. Time is the only thing that actually moves the needle.
- Watch the Live Versions: There’s a stripped-down version from his 2025 EP that hits even harder than the original. The lack of polished production makes the lyrics feel less like a "song" and more like a conversation.
Whether you're a die-hard fan or someone who usually skips his tracks on the radio, you have to respect the pivot. Andy Grammer These Tears wasn't just another single; it was a permission slip for his audience to feel the heavy stuff without feeling like they failed at being happy.
If you want to understand the current era of his music—the mandolins, the raw vocals, the Monster album—you have to start with those tears. They’re the foundation for everything he’s doing now.
Next Steps for You:
Check out the Friends & Family Sessions (2025) to hear how his sound has evolved since this track. If you're struggling with loss, look into the "Campaign for Creativity" or similar outlets Grammer supports; he often emphasizes using art as a way to process what words can't quite catch.