"Tears" is an instrumental jazz composition by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. It was first recorded in Paris in 1937 by the Quintette du Hot Club de France and is regarded as a standard of gypsy jazz, the style associated with the two musicians. Its melody is said to be based on a Romani lullaby. As the piece has no lyrics, it rests entirely on its melody and on the playing of the musicians.
The tune has been recorded by many artists since. Among them are Charlie Byrd, Joe Pass, Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler, as well as The Rosenberg Trio featuring Stéphane Grappelli. Its jazz origins and its Paris recording make it a common point of reference for players of the gypsy jazz repertoire.
