"Teardrop" (also formatted as "Tear Drop") is a song by English trip hop group Massive Attack. Vocals are performed by Scottish singer Elizabeth Fraser, former lead singer of Cocteau Twins, who also wrote the lyrics. It was released on 27 April 1998 by Circa and Virgin as the second single from the group's third studio album, Mezzanine (1998). A harpsichord-driven track, "Teardrop" was originally set to feature vocals from Madonna, whom Massive Attack turned down in favour of Fraser.

In the United Kingdom, "Teardrop" peaked at number 10, becoming the group's highest-charting single and only top-10 hit in their native country. It reached number one in Iceland and became a top-20 hit in Australia, Denmark, Ireland, and New Zealand. The music video, directed by Walter Stern, features a foetus singing in the womb, and the song has been featured in various television programmes, including as the opening theme for the US television programme House and the Australian show The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart.

"Teardrop" was first developed from a simple harpsichord riff picked out in the studio in April 1997. Andrew Vowles, the main songwriter of this song, originally sent the demo to Madonna as he wanted her to record the vocals (the band had previously worked with her on their 1995 reworking of the song "I Want You"). However, the two other band members Robert Del Naja and Grantley Marshall wanted Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins to record the vocals, feeling her ethereal style suited the mournful melody and feel of the piece. Madonna was very keen to record the vocals, and was disappointed when the two-to-one vote went in Fraser's favour.^[1] In 2023, Andrew Unterberger of Billboard wrote: "How ['Teardrop'] might've sounded with Madonna instead of Liz Fraser on vocals remains one of '90s pop's great what-ifs."^[2]

Fraser wrote the song's lyrics, inspired by the works of French philosopher Gaston Bachelard.^[3] While recording the song in 1997, she found out that Jeff Buckley, with whom she had formerly been involved in a relationship, had disappeared—later discovered to have drowned. In 2009, she said, "That was so weird ... I'd got letters out and I was thinking about him. That song's kind of about him—that's how it feels to me anyway".^[4]

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "If there were ever a time for this clique of progressive groovemeisters to solidly connect with the stateside mainstream, it's now. The world has finally caught up with its experimental methods of blending dance rhythms with alterna-pop melodies. On this preview of the album Mezzanine, the band injects a bit of modern rock flavor into the mix - thus, widening the potential for airplay. Added programming incentive is provided by Brendan Lynch and Primal Scream, who add an aggressive bite to a track that bubbles with light electronic instrumentation."^[5] A reviewer from Music Week felt that Fraser's "sublime, folky vocals provide the perfect foil to the Massive Attack's trio's metronome-like backing on this haunting first single [...]. An inspired choice of guest singer, she more than measures up to the standards set by Shara Nelson and Tracey Thorn on Massive's previous albums, her undecipherable lyrics adding an intriguing edge."^[6] James Hyman from the Record Mirror Dance Update gave "Teardrop" five out of five, declaring it as "predictably dark-edged yet compelling", with Fraser's "uplifting vocals shining over a pendulum-ticking beat".^[7]

The single peaked at number 16 in Australia.^[8] It placed number 22 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time in 2009.^[9] It reached the top 10 in the UK and is the only Massive Attack track to do so.^[10] It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry on 10 May 2019.^[11]

The song's music video featured a latex foetus in the womb, singing the song. It was directed by Walter Stern.^[12]