Released: 1994
Scarface’s “No Tears” is a relentless exploration of the relentless, deadly cycles of street life, where retribution is swift and survival is the only metric that matters. It’s a raw and unflinching look at the lethal consequences when respect is violated and codes of the street are disregarded.
Verse one sets the stage with a stark intro line “Now the funeral is over, And all the tears are dried up.” Here, Scarface lays bare the cold reality of the aftermath of violence — the mourning period is short, the grief subsides, and it’s immediately back to the harsh realities of life. The line “An eye for an eye, so now your life is what you owe me,” clarifies the stark law of the streets – if you take a life, your life is forfeit.
The chilling chorus “And like I said before there’ll be no tears in the end” reiterates the heartless cycle of retaliation. Scarface is saying that in this ‘game,’ life is cheap, remorse is non-existent, and death doesn’t warrant the luxury of grief – it’s an ominous warning about the inevitable consequences of living by the gun.
The second verse intensifies the threat, hinting at a vendetta about to unfold. Scarface expresses his readiness to commit an act of retribution with lines like “I’ve got my pistol pawn cocked, Ready to lay shots nonstop until I see your monkey ass drop.” He’s unafraid to confront the reality that he’s become a product of this environment, the ‘killer inside of me’ and his dealings with his inner feelings revealing a ruthless survival instinct.
In the final verse, Scarface is resolute about exacting revenge, “And I won’t stop until I put this motherfucker in his fuckin’ grave.” This verse underlines the deadly seriousness of his intentions. It’s a gruesome, graphic portrait of the resolve born of street life’s relentless danger, where your life is only as secure as your willingness to fight for it.
The song concludes with the chilling refrain, “And I can say this once again, you can cry but you’ll still die, there’ll be no tears in the end.” The message is clear – mercy has no place here, and the only outcome is death. At its core, “No Tears” is a stark commentary on the brutal reality of some neighborhoods where life and death decisions are made based on survival and street code. It’s a chilling anthem of street life’s harsh realities, delivered with Scarface’s trademark lyrical skill.
