Song of the day: Smokey Robinson

Bob Dylan once referred to Smokey Robinson as "America's greatest living poet", and though there's always been debate about how serious he was being, Tracks of My Tears makes a pretty good case for that claim.

For starters, the first verse is a belter.

"People say I'm the life of the party because I tell a joke or two/Although I might be laughing loud and hearty, deep inside I'm blue."

As if that isn't enough, Smokey then gives us one of the greatest choruses ever: "So take a good look at my face/You'll see my smile looks out of place/If you look closer, it's easy to trace/The tracks of my tears."

If you can hear that without being moved, you might just be dead.

Tracks of My Tears was the song I always turned to in the low points of the many, many years when I was single. I don't play it as much any more, but if my wife hears it on the stereo these days, it's generally a good indication for her that I'm on the verge of minor mental collapse.

Lots of people sneer at pop music, but at its best it can be fun, emotional and clever.

Tracks of My Tears is two minutes and 48 seconds of utter pleasure which is nothing to be sneered at these days, I reckon.