Behind the Songs: No Tears

Richard Butler (on being asked what the demonstrations mentioned in the first verse meant): "Demonstrations in the sixties. It's a comparison between then and now, a kind of sad look back. The Weathermen (US anarchists) don't say anything these days, they fight with the Black Panthers and the White Panthers. Recently two Weathermen were shot dead by the police." (Sounds 1981 [German magazine])

Richard Butler: "I'm enjoying singing on [the Book Of Days Tour]. We've been doing acoustic versions of songs like 'The Ghost In You' and 'No Tears'." (Puncture Magazine 1989)

Interviewer: "Some folks that are big fans out there might remember around the time of Talk Talk Talk -- speaking of record company things, something you did was – this little commercial that came out on the – there was a domestic promo single of 'Pretty In Pink' and 'No Tears' – that was actually the sleeve for 'Dumb Waiters', okay, and there was a commercial that you did on it, which is funny. You start out by saying, 'Buy Talk Talk Talk!'"

Richard Butler: "'This is a Psychedelic Furs commercial!' [Laughs]"

Interviewer: "[Laughs] That's what you said? That's great! And that was before bands were actually starting to get into that and doing [inaudible], it was fun. How did you feel about that? I mean, it was a clever idea. Was that your idea, too?"

Richard Butler: "No. The idea – I was told that the idea was if I could do something, like talking on the sleeve, talking about the album. That it would be a good idea and it sounded like it was like advertising for the record, really. So I thought, well, might as well call a spade a spade! [Laughs]"

Interviewer: "[Laughs] Exactly! You did little intros for 'Into You Like A Train' and a couple other songs and then you play like 30 seconds of it. It's definitely one of those true Furs collectibles out there, one of many." (Radio interview with Matt Pinfield, 1991)