Read 'Em and Weep
Barry Manilow · Other Songs - Barry Manilow
I thought l'd leave you with a letter of firey speech
Like when an actor makes an exit at the end of a play
And l've been dying for hours trying to fill up all the holes with some sense
l'd like to know why you gave up and you threw it away
l'd like to give you all the reasons and what everything meant
Well I could tell you "good-bye" or maybe "see you around"
With just a touch of a sarcastic "thanks"
We started out the with a bang and at the top of the world
Now the guns are exhausted and the bullets are blanks
And everything's blank
If I could only find the words then I would write it all down
If I could only find a voice I would speak
Oh, it's there in my eyes oh can't you see me tonight
C'mon and look at me and read 'em and weep
If I could only find the words then I would write it all down
If I could only find a voice I would speak
Oh, it's there in my eyes oh can't you see me tonight
C'mon and look at me and read 'em and weep
I've been whispering softly
Trying to build a cry up into a scream
We let the past slip away
And put the future on hold
Now the present is nothing but a hollowed out dream
And I've been dreaming forever
Hoping something would eventually come
I saw your eyes in the dark, I felt your kiss on my lips
I traced your body in the air until the bodies were numb
Well I could tell you "good-bye" or maybe "see you around"
With just a touch of a sarcastic thanks
But now the rooms are all empty, the candles are dark
The guns are exhausted and the bullets are blanks
And everything's blank
If I could find the words then I would write it all down
If I could only find a voice I would speak
Oh it's there in my eyes so can't you see me tonight
C'mon and look at me and read 'em and weep
Oh, It's there in my eyes and coming straight from my heart
It's running silent and angry and deep
Oh, It's there in my eyes and it's all I can say
C'mon, and look at me
And read 'em and weep
(Read 'em and weep)
For all the hours we'll be spending alone
(Read 'em and weep)
For the dreams we'll ignore
(Running silent and deep)
And all those promises we promised to keep,
They won't be kept anymore.
(Read 'em and weep)
For the magic that our bodies had made
(Read 'em and weep)
For the blood that we've lost
(Running silent and deep)
And all those secrets that we somehow betrayed
For whatever the cost
(Read 'em and weep)
For the memories still alive in the bed
(Read 'em and weep)
For the lies we believed
(Running silent and deep)
And all the things that will have never been said
Why don't you look at me and read 'em and weep
C'mon and look at me and read 'em
It's there in my eyes and coming straight from my heart
It's running silent and angry and deep
It's there in my eyes, it's all I can say
C'mon and look at me and read em and weep.
Read 'Em and Weep
Barry Manilow's 1974 hit 'Read 'Em and Weep' stands as a defining example of his mid-career pop-rock resurgence. Recorded during the height of his success, the track blends smooth vocal delivery with a driving rhythm section, characteristic of the era's polished studio sound. Released alongside his extensive discography, the song exemplifies Manilow's ability to craft anthems that balance romantic themes with energetic instrumentation. It remains a staple of his live performances and radio rotations, showcasing his enduring appeal as a crooner who mastered the art of melodic storytelling. The recording captures the specific sonic texture of early 1970s American pop, cementing his status as a major figure in the genre.

