Garage Rock

With “96 Tears” by ? and The Mysterians sixties music moves into garage rock or a sort of protopunk. But let’s leave  popular music genre-splitting to the academics. The song, written by group member Rudy Martinez (aka ?), went to #1 on the US. Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and on the RPM 100 in Canada in 1966.  Bobby Balderrama is on lead guitar, the prominent Vox Continental organ is played by Frank Rodriguez, Frank Lugo is on bass guitar, and Eddie Serrato is on drums.  They were from Bay City, Michigan and took their name from the Japanese sci-fi flick The Mysterians.

Here are the lyrics to “96 Tears” by Question Mark and The Mysterians:

“Too many teardrops
For one heart to be cryin’
Too many teardrops
For one heart to carry on

You’re way on top now
Since you left me
You’re always laughin’
Way down at me

But watch out now
I’m gonna get there
We’ll be together
For just a little while

And then I’m gonna put you
Way down here
And you’ll start cryin’
96 tears

Cry
Cry

And when the sun comes up
I’ll be on top
You’ll be right down there
Lookin’ up

And I might wave
Come up here
But I don’t see you
Wavin’ now

I’m way down here
Wonderin’ how
I’m gonna get you
But I know now

I’ll just cry, cry
I’ll just cry

Too many teardrops
For one heart to be cryin’
Too many teardrops
For one heart to carry on

You’re gonna cry
96 tears
You’re gonna cry
96 tears

You’re gonna cry cry
Cry, cry, now
You’re gonna cry cry
Cry, cry

96 tears
C’mon and lemme hear you cry, now
96 tears
I wanna hear you cry

Night and day, yeah, all night long
96 tears, cry, cry, cry
C’mon baby, let me hear you cry now
All night long

96 tears
Yeah, c’mon now
96 tears”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “96 Tears” by Question Mark and the Mysterians.