Big Salty Tears

Album: Ignore Amos (1996)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The Ziggens are a Southern California band who were signed to the Skunk Records label along with Sublime, whose lead singer Brad Nowell was a big fan of their music.
  • This song is about a guy who loves a girl but knows he can't have her, so he cries every time he thinks of her or drives by her house. The part where he says, "Making my face all fat fat fat" is about how he deals with the problem by overeating.
  • Sublime sometimes performed this song acoustically. They reference the track on their hit "Wrong Way" in the line, "Big salty tears rolling down to her chin and it smears up her make-up."

Comments: 7

  • Erin from Sioux Falls, SdIs 2.17 just a random dollar amount for his order at the drive-thru, or is there some other significance with the number and sublime?
  • Kyle from Barrie, Onyo bluejay, im not correcting you to be a dick or any thing, just cool knowledge, but the original lyrics was "salty jiss running down to her chin"
    but i think the producer changed it, its pretty funny.
  • Stephen from Grand Rapids, MiIn the Youtube video it's actually 2 songs.. ones called "Mary" and then when it changes it becomes "Big Salty Tears".
  • Liz from The Town That Never Sleeps, NvI think this songs about a guy having a crsh on a girl and realizing he cant have her. Like the line " big salty tears is what i taste as i drive PAST your house tonight.." kinda like hes scared to stop and ring the doorbell so he keeps driving ya know...
    -Liz
  • Mike from St.catharines, CanadaAnother great song Sublime covered. Well Technically Brad covered it acoustic at the firecracker lounge. Definately another sad song that relates to a breakup from the perspective of the guy writing the song. He keeps reminising about the girl he was seeing such as when he drives past her house. He realizes his drinking wont helpo him get over her. The part "Making my face all fat fat fat" obviously refers to the look of people when they cry with there cheeks scrunched up.
  • Bluejay from Kearny, Njthe phrase 'big salty tears' appears in the song 'Wrong Way', also by Sublime.
  • Michael from Tega Cay, ScThis song was taped onto the lead singer of the ziggens answering machine from a show in florida(brad was signing it)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Alice Cooper

Alice CooperFact or Fiction

How well do you know this shock-rock harbinger who's been publicly executed hundreds of times?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"

Billy Steinberg - "Like A Virgin"They're Playing My Song

The first of Billy's five #1 hits was the song that propelled Madonna to stardom. You'd think that would get you a backstage pass, wouldn't you?

Evolution Of The Prince Symbol

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.