Tear Stained Eye seems to be a crowd favorite at Son Volt's live
shows, and it is one hell of a beautiful folk song.  The song is
Jay's deep approach on the flood that threatened the community
of St. Genevieve, Missouri (a suburb of Jay's hometown, St. 
Louis).  St. Genevieve is a small town built in the 1700s, and 
to this day has homes and shops made of old wood that would now 
be considered antique.  Story has it that the flood that 
threatened it a few years back did not get its punches in on
this tough ol' town.  Jay seems to bring other storylines into 
the song as well.  It seems to have some qualities of a love
song, but as with many of Farrar's songs, it can be difficult to
tell for sure.


Walking down Main Street
Getting to know the concrete
Looking for a purpose from a neon sign
I would meet you anywhere the western sun meets the air
We'll hit the road, never looking behind

(Chorus)
Can you deny, there's nothing greater
Nothing more than the traveling hands of time?
Sainte Genevieve can hold back the water
But saints don't bother with a tear stained eye

Seeing traces of the scars that came before
Hitting the pavement, still asking for more
When the hours don't move along
Worn-out wood and familiar songs
To hear your voice is not enough
It's more than a shame

(Chorus)

Like the man said, rode hard and put away wet
Throw away the bad news, and put it to rest
If learning is living, and the truth is a state of mind
You'll find it's better at the end of the line

(Chorus)