No More Tears by Ozzy Osbourne

Album: No More Tears (1991)

Charted: 32 71

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A very macabre song about a stalker who torments women in a red-light district, "No More Tears" was written by Ozzy Osbourne along with his guitarist Zakk Wylde, drummer Randy Castillo, bass player Mike Inez and producer John Purdell. Wylde told Songfacts how it came together: "We were just messing around in rehearsals. Mike started jamming that on the bass, then Randy started playing drums, and then John started doing that keyboard bit."
No More Tears was the first album Ozzy recorded while he was sober. This was a big change for him, since he had done drugs and alcohol for over 20 years. He became a family man, and was even rumored to exercise from time to time.
"No More Tears" was the title track and first single from Ozzy's sixth solo album. Unlike his previous albums, it did not have a demonic title and cover art, and while this song is dark fantasy, many of the other songs are more personal and reflective, particularly "Mama, I'm Coming Home" and "Road To Nowhere." Ozzy is pictured on the cover with angel wings.
Ozzy called the subsequent tour "No More Tours," and said it would be his last. After it ended, he got bored and decided to tour some more, calling his next one the "Retirement Sucks Tour."
Future Alice in Chains bassist Mike Inez is credited as a writer for this song. Although longtime Ozzy Osbourne bassist Bob Daisley played on the song, the intro bass riff was composed by Inez, who also performed in the album's videos and promotional tours
The No More Tears album was digitally remastered and re-released in 2002, then issued again in 2021 for the 30th anniversary. It holds up as a classic from Ozzy's catalog and sold over 4 million copies in America, remarkable considering he was 42 when it was released.
"No More Tears" once saved the life of a Sabbath-loving autistic 8-year-old boy. Joshua Robb ran into the San Bernardino Mountains of California to escape allegedly abusive parents, and he was found walking toward rescuers 24 hours later, after police blasted this song from speakers.
This song also can be heard being played in the 2000 Adam Sandler movie Little Nicky during the final battle scene where Osbourne appears.
Bob Daisley played bass on this track. He was the lyricist for Ozzy's first three solo albums, but on the third - Bark at the Moon - he was uncredited because of an agreement where he took a buyout. In a Songfacts interview with Daisley, he talked about his work on this song: "I had a hand in the musical side of that. When it came to lyrics, I was going to write the lyrics, but I said, 'Well, I don't want to do a buyout this time. I'd rather get my songwriting credits and maybe put it through the publishing company.' That's when I was asked to go home."

Comments: 51

Monica from PolandThis lady its Mariah O’Brien. You welcome.
Trystyn from MichiganPeople keep saying about how he was crying. It wasn't him. It was his victim crying. Duh
Eugene A Buckley from BismarckNo More Tears was great. Who was the actress playing the crying girl not listed anywhere I looked. What was her name? Thank you
Paul from Bel Air , MdI have heard that he was giving his kids a bath and putting them to bed . He saw the no more tears on the shampoo bottle. Read the lyrics with this in mind and you can see it .
Ted Garcia from San Diego, CaWell what i get from the lyrics is he is a killer of prostitutes and he pretty much knows that prostitutes are very sad with the life of being one, so they are always crying about their lives. Therefore the killer is going to do those poor hookers/prostitutes a favor and make is so they'll never have to be sad and CRY any MORE TEARS about their lives any more, because little, do they know he is ending their life that very night! Hence relieving the poor girls from being sad and crying tears about it ever again. What a nice and caring murderer. Don't you think? Hahaha. Hope I explained that right.
Hindsight Of 20/20 from The Pandemic PlanetWell, the whole theory is great and brilliantly put together, except for one detail: The album was released in 1991 and the child was murdered in 1996. So that alone brings me back to square one. However, I could say perhaps the murderer used the song as inspiration? Everything is possible.
Hindsight Of 20/20 from The Pandemic PlanetHas no one noticed how the little girl on TV at the end of this video has a remarkable resemblance with the beauty pageant child JonBenet Ramsey? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6555009/Pedophile-Gary-Oliva-confesses-killing-JonBen-t-Ramsey-accident.html <--in this interview, there's a line that is disturbingly similar to the outcome in the lyrics:

[Interview quote:] Oliva, who was once jailed for trying to strangle his mother, wrote: 'I never loved anyone like I did JonBenét and yet I let her slip and her head bashed in half and I watched her die. It was an accident. Please believe me. She was not like the other kids.'

[and the lyric quote:] "I never wanted it to end this way my love, my darling; Believe me when I say to you in love I think I'm falling here

Also "it's just a hand in the bush" is short for "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush", possibly meaning it's just ONE of many other murders to come (or murders past). And then the line that reads "Your mamma told you that you're not supposed to talk to strangers" makes far more sense.

If my theory is correct, there's a sick darkness to these lyrics that tribute this particular murder between lines.
Anthony B from HopatcongHe was giving his a kid bath and saw no more tears on a shampoo bottle that’s where the inspiration came from.
J A Y M E S M A I N from Reseda CaliforniaI only thought this song was about oneself I have an emotional breakdown and like me always just like a girl just kidding about the last part peace out eye rule I'm sorry covid-19 rule now here's a little song for you I am the Connor virus I'm coming to get you just keep walking don't you run did you start running I won't catch you
I Want Peeled LemonsI can’t @ people in the comments but Autumn from Clinton needs to be r/NotLikeOtherGirls’d
For those who didn’t see the comment, word for word-ish: I am only 16 years old and yet I’d rather listen to Ozzy Osbourne instead of rap and hip hop. His music is like sooo amazing. Couldn’t make this up if I wanted to. Also doesn’t make much of a difference but no hate just wanted to point it out
Jim from MilwaukeeA prostitute serial killer hiding in the bushes in a hurry to go on to the next victim.
Frank Balazs from Toledo Ohio I think the songs about snatching up children and molesting them and their to afraid to tell anyone..so they hide their tears of torment and torcher..
Aleister from Satan's DoorThe line "Going forward in reverse" is a Satanic allusion a la Mr. Crowley. The lyrics describe ritual sacrifice.
Jodie from XxI don't know who wrote these lyrics, but you can believe it wasn't Ozzy. Great song.
Josh from UsI think the stalker bit is probably right, but I don't think he's stalking hookers, he was stalking someone he felt something for and realized he can't have her. The man probably has multiple personalities, Dr. Jekyl Mr. Hyde. he sees a stranger when he looks in the mirror. the man around the corner is himself. Going forward in reverse may have something to do with some regression therapy to move forward with his life, you have to go through hell before you get to heaven. Falling from grace back towards earth. I recently had an experience that makes me think these things, and one of my best friends has said I'm the reincarnation of Ozzy for years, although the real truth can never be truly seen.
Autumn from Clinton, TnI am only 16 years old and yet I rather listen to Ozzy Osbourne instead of rap and hip hop. His music is like, soo amazing.
Lisa from East Tn. , TnI was a mere 25 years old when this came out. Was played a lot on radio and on MTV's Headbangers Ball. I always liked the song . I always knew it was about a serial killer or a guy stalking and murdering some poor girl. Ozzy looks great in this Clip ,damn I forgot how hot Zakk Wylde looks. WOW!
Crayola from Knoxville, TnThe comment about giving up drugs was interesting. Maybe that is what he means with those lyrics. I was told the lyrics meant necromancy, but my interpretation is that he was hurt by a woman he loved, and now he's going to kill her.
Tony Hess from Beachwood, NjIn my opinion this could be a life in the day of a killer and prey however, I feel it could also speak more metaphorically about the life choices of a runaway girl that leads her down a path of drugs and meaningless sex that leaves hardened and cold hence no more tears.
James from Avon, Maactually thats not true. many people think that is kelly but its really not. and i didnt know tht he wrote it because his daughter was abducted. which daughter? jessica, aimme, or kelly?
Zephyr from Olympia, United KingdomReminds me of Randall Flag from The Stand.
"The man in the dark plans another attack"
But i guess Jack the Ripper/Springheel Jack works too.
Karl from Trona, CaAnd if you want to play the Ripper card, that works I guess, because he killed hookers, not strippers. Due to the nature of his crimes though, I don't see him having any remorse, so I don't see how tears come into the equation.
Karl from Trona, CaListen to the lyrics. It's about a disturbed patron killing a prostitute. The line about the red light going on is the clue. It's actually kind of sad and sick at the same time. Great, great song, one of the best riffs/solos ever.
Alex from Blythe, Caits about a serial killer the lines a levee of tears to find out she wont be coming back and no more tears is him telling him self there's no point in crying he mentions kissing her cold lips (which means shes dead but cant leave her) and look in the mirror and tell me if you think your life's in danger is him warning and your mama told you not to talk to strangers is like "didn't your mom tell you not to pick up hitch hikers"
Ben from Milwaukee, WiMy interpretation of the song is that it's about somebody who is profoundly mentally ill, probably with multiple personalities(look in the mirror, do you think your life's in danger?). The lyrics seem to be about either committing a heinous crime, and either being committed to the psych ward, or prison. At least that's what I gather from the first portion of the song. Then with the last part, I can see the connection to the Jack the Ripper/stripper killer meaning.
Greg from Slidell, Lazakk wylde is a fricking beast.
Kyle from Oregon, Ohozzy didnt return because he got bored. he was diagnosed with a form of cancer or something so he stopped touring. he then found that he would be fine so he came back to the stage
Robert from Atlanta, GaI wouldn't describe this as a comforting song, I would describe it more as a "I told you so" song, with the lyric "your mama told you that you're not supposed to talk to strangers"
David from Ashland City, TnThis is a good sond to play in the dark.
Tom from Nyc, Ny"Over The Mountain", "Flying High Again", and even "Crazy Train", still exist ! - and you think "No More Tears" is Ozzy's best song ?
Weirdo from Temple, Okyou know why he wrote this song? his daughter was abducted by a man, he found him the day after and beat him to a pulp poor ozzy :(
Mick from Las Vegas, NvThink "Jack the Ripper". Jack the Ripper terrorized London in the late 1800's by killing prostitutes. He was never caught.
Jessica from Holt, MiI like this because it is like watching a horror movie (a good one), but in song form.
Eric from Redlands, CaThe girl in the video who is in the water is Mariah O'brian. i was the lead diver on that video. put all the camera guys on hooka and scuba set-ups.
Alex from Adelaide, AustraliaThis song has the best bass intro I've ever heard! I want to cover it at school one time
Amay from Edison, NjProbably one of his best songs, although Zakk once said, I'm not sure if it's true or not, that this song is rather hard to play live, due to that awesome bridge in the middle.
Steph from Ottawa, CanadaThis is Ozzy's best song, best album. The man at the pinnacle of his career. (not counting his Black Sabbath run)
Dan from Santa Clarita, CaZakk Wydle, ozzy's longest lasting guitarist next to Tony Iommi, has spoken of how this song came out on one take. they wrote it in a barn after Zakk had played the verse riff and Ozzy said the first lines "A light in the window is a crack in the sky" they went on from there. the version that Zakk had in mind is on the Black Label Society album "Sonic Brew"
Josh from New York, Nyi always assumed the "no more tears" thing meant how he was getting over randy rhoads death, because he had been in serious depression for a long time, and it seemed like "no more tears" was a way of him saying "ok enough grieving i have to record music"
but i guess a serial killer is good too
Ravyn from Hell, NyActually, its about a guy who stalks, rapes and kills strippers.
Hope from Big Bear, CaMr Tinker Train is about the child molester. No More Tears is about a serial killer and the urges and his need to kill and his love of delivering death.. sicko..lol I agree with a earlier post that he is being sarcastic when he says 'your mama told you that your not suppose to talk to strangers'
Ozzy Rocks!!
Abe from La Crosse, WiThis song is not about molesting children. The song that you guys are probably thinking about is Mr. Tinkertrain, which is from the same album.
Luke from Manchester, EnglandThis song has the best guitar solo on it, from the awesome Zakk Wylde
Lacy from Yukon, OkA lot of people think the song is about a child moletor because of the line "Your Mama told you that you're not supposed to talk to strangers." Personally, I tihnk it's just a bit of sarcasm and cruel irony, like saying "Remeber how annoying it was when your mom told you to be careful? You should have listened."
Matt from Lethbridge, CanadaThe song is about a serial killer who kills and rapes strippers, not children.
Jason from Wylie, Txi thought it was a child molester/killer
Brian from Paoli, InYa the song is about a serial killer. Great song, Zakk Wylde rules.
Terry from Belleville, CanadaThat the album "No More Tears" was originally going to be called "Say Hello To Heaven".
Steph from San Antonio, TxThe little girl at the end of the video is a young Kelly Osbourne.
Josh from Sunbury, PaI thought it was about a child raping cerial killer... that was the point behind the no more tears... and the girl in the video...

who knows
Matt from Kansas City, MoThe song no more tears, is actually about a serial killer.

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