Jim's Note: I was reading Toni Morrison’s book, Paradise, and the line quoted above immediately grabbed my attention when I saw it on page 249. 'There’s a song here,' thought I, 'and by god I intend to write it.' Then a couple of days later while trying to remember the above line, I miss-remembered it as: ‘A cup of tears behind her smile.’ I that was even better than the original line. Now I definitely had to write a song. I spent some time thinking about what type of incident would make this woman simultaneously happy and yet sad. A wedding seemed to be the answer.

As she walks up to the alter, on a perfect wedding day,
She is waiting for the moment when they give the bride away.
She is radiating happiness as she walks down the aisle,
But you can see a cup of tears behind her smile.

BRIDGE
Her best friend walks beside her, 
Her eyes fixed on the groom,
As the choir sing together, 
Golden angels fill the room.
See them dance above the alter,
Dropping flowers on the boy,
And as the choir bless the chorus, 
All the colours turn to joy.

[ Instrumental Break ]

Now Julie is the Maid of Honor to her lovers bride,
But the love they shared together has now shrivelled up inside.
She is radiating happiness, as she walks down the aisle,
But you can see a cup of tears behind her smile.