How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?

"How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?"
Single by the Beautiful South
from the album Quench
B-side	"Big Coin" (acoustic)
Released	8 March 1999 (1999-03-08)[1]
Length	3:20
Label	Mercury Go! Discs
Songwriter(s)	Paul Heaton Dave Rotheray
Producer(s)	Jon Kelly Paul Heaton
The Beautiful South singles chronology
"Dumb" (1998) "How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" (1999) "The Table" (1999)

"How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" is a single by British pop rock group the Beautiful South from their sixth album, Quench (1998). It was written by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray. The lyrics, which take the form of a conversation between two reconciling lovers, are noted for a reference to the TARDIS from Doctor Who. According to the book Last Orders at the Liars Bar: the Official Story of the Beautiful South, "How Long's a Tear Take to Dry?" was originally to be called "She Bangs the Buns" due to its chord structure reminiscent of Manchester's the Stone Roses. The song reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's 12th and final top-20 hit.