[J. Tithonus Pednaud]

Old-School tear tattoos were just a mark of sorrow over a life event or sometimes held a religious meaning. I know that famous tattooed man Captain Costentenus had a tear drop tattoo and that was back in the 1870's.

Tear drop tattoos also showed up in Chicano prison gangs and generally meant that you killed someone while incarcerated.

Eventually they were adopted by street gang culture and today can mean anything from being a murderer, crying over the loss of a loved one, or just trying to look badass while playing bass in a garage punk band.