?

No, that’s not a question I am asking. That’s the legal name of the lead singer of a 1960s Mexican-American garage band that some call the first punk rock group.

The groups original members were born in Texas of immigrants from Mexico and eventually moved to Saginaw, Michigan. Yes, from one border to the other. Hot to cold. The parents followed the employment trail and what better place than just north of Detroit, auto industry USA.

Why ? and the Mysterians, also written as Question Mark and the Mysterians and Q and the Mysterians? They needed a name and Mysterians came from the Japanese science-fiction film “The Mysterians.”

The song 96 Tears was their number one hit in 1966. It was originally called Too Many Tears, then 69 Tears, but the group thought better considering the time and went with the 96 Tears, which I think sounds smoother with the s sound at the end of 96 and Tears complimenting each other.

Oh, and did I mention ? says he’s from Mars and walked with the dinosaurs?

 

Too many teardrops for one heart to be crying
Too many teardrops for one heart to carry on

You’re way on top now since you left me
You’re always laughing way down at me
But watch out now, I’m gonna get there
We’ll be together for just a little while
And then I’m gonna put you way down here
And you’ll start crying ninety-six tears
Cry, cry

And when the sun comes up, I’ll be on top
You’ll be right down there, looking up
And I might wave, come up here
But I don’t see you waving now
I’m way down here, wondering how
I’m gonna get you but I know now
I’ll just cry, cry, I’ll just cry

Too many teardrops for one heart to be crying
Too many teardrops for one heart to carry on

You’re gonna cry ninety-six tears
You’re gonna cry ninety-six tears
You’re gonna cry, cry, cry, cry now
You’re gonna cry, cry, cry, cry
Ninety-six tears

Come on and let me hear you cry, now
Ninety-six tears, woo
I wanna hear you cry
Night and day, yeah, all night long

Uh, ninety-six tears, cry, cry, cry
Come on, baby, let me hear you cry now, all night long
Uh, ninety-six tears, yeah, come on now
Uh, ninety-six tears