The Tracks Of My Tears

· by Michael McDonald

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Lyrics

Peo (A7)ple say I’m the (C#7)life me of a par er ty (F#m11)’cause I tell (B7)a joke or two.

Al though

I (C#m7)may be laugh ing long a sub and heart y, by.

deep in (B7)side ma I’m blue.

You’ll take a (A)good

(D)look at my face.

You see my (A)smile

looks out of place.

(E7sus)If you look clos er

it’s eas y to (Bm7)trace

(E7sus)the tracks of my (Dm7)tears,

now ba (E7sus)by.

When (A7)you’re gone, if you (C#7)see me with an oth er girl, (F#m11)act ing like (B7)I’m hav ing fun,

al though

she (C#m7)may be cute, she’s just a sub sti tute, ba by.

You’re the (B7)per ma nent one.

You’ll take a (A)good

(D)look at my face.

You see my (A)smile

looks out of place.

(E7sus)If you look clos er

it’s eas y to (Bm7)trace

(E7sus)the tracks of my (Dm7)tears,

now ba (E7sus)by.

now ba (E7sus)by.

(Out (Bm9)side)

I’m mas quer ad ing.

(F#m7)(Out

(Bm9)side)

my (Bm9)hope is fad (A)ing.

(Out (Bm9)side)

(F#m7)since you (Bm9)put me (F#m7)down,

my (F#m7)smile is my make up I wear since my break up with (E7sus)you.

No,

ba by.

(Peo (D)ple say I’m the life of (E7sus)the par ty ’cause I tell (D)a joke or two.

Al though I (A)may be (D)laugh ing

loud and (E7sus)heart y,

deep in (G9)side I’m (Cmaj9)blue.)

(Since (D)you’re gone, if you see me with (E7sus)an oth er girl,

and act (D)ing like I’m hav ing (Bm7)fun,

al though she (A)may be (D)cute, she’s just a sub sti (E7sus)tute.

You’re (G9)the per ma nent (Cmaj9)one.)

(Peo (D)ple say I’m the life of (E7sus)the par ty ’cause I tell (D)a joke or two.

Al though I (A)may be (D)laugh ing

loud and (E7sus)heart y,

deep in (G9)side I’m (Cmaj9)blue.)

(Since (D)you’re gone, if you see me with (E7sus)an oth er girl,

and act (D)ing like I’m hav ing (Bm7)fun,

al though she (A)may be (D)cute, she’s just a sub sti (E7sus)tute.

You’re (G9)the per ma nent (Cmaj9)one.)

The Tracks Of My Tears by Michael McDonald — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Tracks Of My Tears” by Michael McDonald in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of A at 84 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Tracks Of My Tears" good for a child learning piano?: Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "The Tracks Of My Tears"?: Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?: No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?: Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "The Tracks Of My Tears" use?: Just 19 chords: A, A7, B7, Bbm7, Bm7, Bm9, C#, C#7, +11 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Michael McDonald songs work for kids?: Try "REFLECTIONS", "I BELIEVE", "FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.