Almanac Music: ‘I was alright, for a while’ – Songs Involving Crying
Crying Girl, by Roy Lichtenstein, lithograph, 1963. [Wikimedia Commons.]
Almanac Music: ‘I was alright, for a while’ – Songs Involving Crying
Hi, Almanackers! This piece in my long-running series about key popular song themes concerns songs involving crying. It’s such as key theme / issue in popular songs I’m a bit surprised I haven’t put it forward earlier.
So, dear readers / listeners, please put your relevant ‘crying’ songs in the ‘Comments’ section. Below, as usual, are some examples from me to get the ball rolling.
‘Cry Me a River’, written by Arthur Hamilton, performed by Julie London (1955)
‘I cried a river over over you’
‘Cry, Cry, Cry’, written by Johnny Cash, performed by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two (1955)
‘For every lie you tell you’re gonna cry, cry, cry’
‘Crying’, written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson, performed by Roy Orbison (1961)
‘I was alright, for a while’
‘Not a Second Time’, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, performed by the Beatles (1963)
‘You know you made me cry’
‘As Tears Go By’, written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richard and Andrew Loog Oldham, performed by Marianne Faithfull (1964)
‘I sit and watch as tears go by’
‘Cry Baby Cry’, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, performed by the Beatles (1968)
‘make your mother sigh’
‘Photograph’ written by George Harrison and Richard Starkey, performed by Ringo Starr (1973)
‘tears I cried for you’
‘Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina’, written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, performed by Julie Covington (1976)
‘The truth is I never left you’
‘Cry’, written and performed by Kevin Godley and Lol Creme (1985)
‘You make me want to cry’
‘Crying in the Chapel’, written by Peter Blakeley and Aaron Zigmon, performed by Peter Blakeley (1989)
‘I heard you crying in the chapel / On this great big happy sunny day’
……………………………………………………………………
Now, dear readers / listeners – it’s over to you. Your responses to this topic are warmly welcomed. In the ‘Comments’ section, please add your own choice of a song (or songs) involving crying, along with any other relevant material you wish to include.
[Note: as usual, Wikipedia has been a good general reference for this piece, particularly in terms of checking dates and other details.]
Read more from Kevin Densley HERE
Kevin Densley’s latest poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws…I’m Feeling Too Indolent, is available HERE
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His fifth book-length poetry collection, Please Feed the Macaws ... I'm Feeling Too Indolent, was published in late 2023 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
Some that comes to mind at 5am are:
‘Cry’ – Johnny Ray (JR big in our household in 50s)
‘Little White Cloud That Cried’ – Johnny Ray
‘Cry Like A Baby’ – The Box Tops
Thanks, Col, for opening the batting with three classic ‘criers’.
Good Friday morning KD
The first lyric that came to mind was from Dylan’s ‘I Dreamed I Saw St Augustine’, off his 1967 John Wesley Harding album.
‘Oh, I awoke in anger
So alone and terrified
I put my fingers against the glass
And bowed my head and cried’
Good morning, Karl. Thanks for a fine Dylan song with which to co-open the batting.
I just read a very interesting snippet linking ‘I Dreamed I Saw St Augustine’ to John Milton’s wonderful sonnet XXIII, also focused on a dream vision: ‘Methought I saw my late espoused saint’.
Way back in 1946 Fred Rose wrote ‘Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain’. It was first recorded by Elton Britt the same year.
Many performers have recorded it though to me Hank Williams 1951 recording is the gold standard, with Willie Nelsons version next in line.
Here’s Hanks version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29-UTIb4WLk
Glen!
Levi Stubbs’ Tears – Billy Bragg
Well-timed post, Kevin. This one (Boys Don’t Cry – The Cure) seems especially appropriate for us blokes. “I tried to laugh about it/ Cover it all up with lies/ I tried to laugh about it/ Hiding the tears in my eyes/ ‘Cause boys don’t cry.”
So …
*She Cried – Rowland S. Howard
*Weeping Song – Nick Cave + the Bad Seeds
*No Woman No Cry – Bob Marley
*Pink Frost – The Chills[NZ]
“I want to stop my crying, But she’s lying there dying
How can I live when you see what I’ve done?”
*And I Will Cry – Chris Knox [NZ]
*Crying – Bjork
*Sorrow – David Bowie
*Cry Over You – Tami Neilson [NZ]
*With You – Lou Reed
“With you, everybody’s lying
It’s you, it’s not me who’s crying”
*The Sky is Crying – Elmore James
*Crying, waiting, Hoping – Buddy Holly
*All Through the Night – Lou Reed
“Made me feel so sad, I cried all through the night.”
*Goodby Mass (In a Chapel Bodily Termination – Lou Reed
“Sitting on a hard chair, it’s over, time to stand
Some people are crying, I turn to grab your hand
It’s your daughter saying, ‘Thank you’
You, you would have made a joke
‘Isn’t this something?’ You’d say, ‘Tomorrow I’m smoke’”
*Another Morning – Mutton Birds [NZ]
“And she cries herself awake another morning”
*Wide Open Road – Triffids
“Remember carrying the baby just for you
Crying in the wilderness”
*Is That the Way – Dave McArtney + the Pink Flamingos [NZ]
“Is that the way
Is that the way
You lie for him
Cry for him
Sigh for him”
*Nobody gets what they want anymore – Marlon Williams [NZ]
“What am I going to do when I can see that you’ve been crying
And you don’t want no help from me?”
AND FINALLY … ‘Winston Crying on the Bathroom Floor’ – Princess Chelsea [NZ], featuring a sample of her cat wailing, where else, on the bathroom floor. Some levity. At the end.
Thanks, Glen – always good to receive some Hank Snr.
Thank you, Swish, for the Bragg song. He’s been getting a good run in themed connected comments recently.
Thanks, Peter C, for the fine array of crying-related songs. I liked the strong NZ representation, too – for a country with a small population, it punches above its weight division in all sorts of ways.
@Kevin: We clearly do a lot of crying here.
Don’t wanna hear that song again: Kelly Groucutt
Hold onto love: Orkestra
Don’t cry: Asia
Days like these: Asia
Sweet is the night: Electric Light Orchestra
10538 Overture: Electric Light Orchestra
Kuiama: Electric Light Orchestra
Do ya: The Move/Electric Light Orchestra
Wishing: Electric Light Orchestra
Lonesome lullaby: Electric Light Orchestra
Showdown: Electric Light Orchestra
Oh no not Susan: Electric Light Orchestra
Heartbreaker: Electric Light Orchestra Part II
You don’t have to cry: Crosby Stills and Nash
You won’t have to cry: The Byrds
Don’t let it fade away: Fleming and John
A woman and a man: Belinda Carlisle
Leave a light on: Belinda Carlisle
Love never dies: Belinda Carlisle
Summer rain: Belinda Carlisle
Don’t cry: Belinda Carlisle
My heart goes out to you: Belinda Carlisle
White limbo: Australian Crawl
Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama: Australian Crawl
Reflections of my life: Marmalade
The birthday party: Idle Race
Sally Simpson: The Who
Mercy, mercy: Don Covay
In the valley: Midnight Oil
I’m crying: The Animals
Isn’t life strange: Moody Blues
Lost in a lost world: Moody Blues
I hope I never: Split Enz
Haven’t got time for the pain: Carly Simon
Beautiful daughter: The Move
What?: The Move
Wake up: Roy Wood
Everyday I wonder: Wizzard
Hey KD, this theme could go forever. I offer these to get going:
I Couldn’t Keep from Crying, Marty Robbins
Tear Stained Eye, Sin Volt
Little Mascara, The Replacements
Dennis: Badfinger
I’d die babe: Badfinger
Angel don’t cry: Toto
Hospital – Modern Lovers (one of the all-time melancholy songs) “last time I walked down your street there were tears in my eyes” “now these streets we all know. they help us cry when we’re alone late at night”
Big Tears – Elvis Costello and the Attractions
American Without Tears – The Costello Show
Tears Before Bedtime – Elvis Costello
Tomorrow’s Tears – Riptides
96 Tears – ? and the Mysterians
Cold and Bitter Tears – Ted Hawkins
Tears of My Tracks (sic) – Billy Bragg
Tracks of My Tears – Smokey Robinson
Tears of a Clown – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Cryin’ Sun – Radio Birdman
The Crying Game – Dave Berry
An Invitation to Cry – The Magicians
No Reason to Cry – Go-Betweens
Why Do I Cry – The Remains
While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Beatles
Weeping Wall – David Bowie
Wow! Thanks, Liam, so much for your big contribution to this crying theme, including your usual – and most welcome – bunch of ELO material.
You’re so right, Rick, about the vast sweep of this crying theme. It’s obviously such a major part of popular song that it would have been remiss of me not to put it forward at some stage. Thanks for your opening trio of songs.
Thanks, Swish, for your highly impressive list of songs. I am particularly pleased to see While My Guitar Gently Weeps get a guernsey, as I initially planned to put it in my opening bunch of examples, but for some reason forgot to include that Harrison classic.
Buffalo Springfield songs:
Sit down I think I love you
Expecting to fly
Go and say goodbye
Flying on the ground is wrong
Why do I lie?: Luscious Jackson
Hey Swish, you left out American without Tears #2, by Little Elvis and I would argue even better than AwT#1
Cheers
Hey KD – Loved seeing ‘Tracks Of My Tears’ & ‘Tears Of A Clown’ in the mix.
Jackson Browne – Doctor My Eyes
‘Doctor, my eyes/But cannot see the sky
Is this the prize/For having learned how not to cry?’
Neil Young – Don’t Cry No Tears
”Cause when all the water’s gone/The feeling lingers on
Old true love ain’t too hard to see/Don’t cry no tears around me’
Eric Clapton – Tears In Heaven
Beyond the door/There’s peace, I’m sure
And I know there’ll be no more/Tears in Heaven
Richard Thompson – Mascara Tears
Salt for the memory, black for the years
Black as forever, mascara tears
Woah, the Neil Young song just reminded me of a cracking song of the same name by Sydney band X (led by Steve Lucas).
With all due respect to Mr Young, Lucas’s ‘Don’t Cry No Tears’ pisses all over it.
You can find it Bandcamp:
https://stevelucasx.bandcamp.com/track/dont-cry-no-tears-4
KD, it’s 1.00pm AEDT and I can’t believe that there has been no mention to date of the Lesley Gore twin set “It’s my party’ and “Judy’s turn to cry’! Classic late 50s/early 60s teenage angst. Perhaps I’m showing my age.
Six songs by The Beautiful South, and not a dud in there, with my fave being Prettiest Eyes:
Song for Whoever
Prettiest Eyes
Bell Bottomed Tear
Good as Gold
One Last Love Song
Old Red Eyes is Back
Hey Rick, no-one likes a pedant or a smart-arse – I should know!!!
I’ll throw in another EC
Clowntime Is Over – “Tears on your ransom”
There is also Clowntime Is Over No. 2 but this is virtually the same song (unlike the American Without Tears pair) – phew!!
I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry
Hear that lonesome whip-poor-will
The Orchestra songs:
Jewel and Johnny
Over London Skies
Say goodbye
Before we go
Two Kinds of tear Drops – Del Shannon
Cry, Baby, Cry – Peter Skurray (my old school friend Peter Skurray had a big seller all around Australia in either ’62 or ’63). He also put out a fine rendition (can be seen on You Tube) of Crying.
Many thanks, Liam, for your Buffalo Springfield songs and the Luscious Jackson one – you’ve been commendably busy in relation to our new theme!
Thanks, Rick, for ‘American without Tears #2’ – nice attention to detail!
Thank you, Karl, for your latest four (including the informative quotes) – to select just one for comment: ‘Doctor My Eyes’ is an old favourite of mine and always gets a good run at Chateau KD.
Thanks, Ian J – love the Lesley Gore pair you’ve put forward!
Thanks, Rick, for the six songs by The Beautiful South – I have some catchup listening to do in this context!
Thanks, Swish, for both versions of ‘Clowntime Is Over’ – between you and Rick, we’ve certainly got some Declan Patrick MacManus experts aboard today!
Tower of Strength (If I were a tower of strength, I’d watch you cry, I’d laugh at your tears and tell you goodbye) – Gene McDaniels
Hey Little Girl (And through the shadows I could see many tears) – Del Shannon
Silver Threads and Golden Needles (I don’t want your mansions with a tear in every room) – The Springfields
Seven Lonely Nights (Oh my darling, you’re crying, Boo Hoo Hoo Hoo) – Bonney Lou
Thanks, DB, for Cash’s ‘Big River’ (jeez, I love so many of those fifties Sun Studio songs!), as well as the Hank Snr number. Both absolute country gold!
Thanks, Liam, for the four songs by The Orchestra. Fine work, today!
Thanks, Fisho, for your two sets of ‘crying songs’ so far – I thought ‘Silver Threads and Golden Needles’ is an example of a particularly good pickup in terms of our new theme, with its ‘tear in every room’ line.
The Pogues: “All the tears I cried” with Kirsty MacColl.
“Love you til the end” (“I just want to to see you laugh, not cry”)
“Thousands are sailing” (“When I got back to my hotel room / I supposed I must have cried”)
“A rainy night in Soho” (“And I’ve cried for all your troubles / Smiled at your funny little ways”)
And what I regard as their greatest ever song “The Broad Majestic Shannon” (“So take my hand / And dry your tears, babe / Take my hand / forget your fears, babe”)
and many more, I am sure
China Doll (I’m tired of Cryin’) – Slim Whitman
Love letters in the Sand (How you laughed when I cried) – Pat Boone
Tears on my Pillow – Little Anthony.
A Little Bitty Tear _ Burl Ives
Here’s a heap from Conway Twitty –
To See My Angel Cry
Don’t Cry Joni
Green Eyes Crying Those Blue Tears
Heavy Tears
You Needed Me (I cried a tear, you wiped it dry) – Perry Como
A Man Isn’t supposed to Cry – Perry Como
Hey Look, No Crying – Frank Sinatra
Kisses and Tears – Frank Sinatra
Hey KD
Here’s a few Dylan from the ‘A Complete Unknown’ period……
Blowin’ In The Wind
‘And how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?’
A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall
‘I heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley’
Bob Dylan Dream
‘With half-damp eyes, I stared to the room
Where my friends and I spent many an afternoon’
Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
‘Oh, but you who philosophize, disgrace and criticize all fears
Bury the rag deep in your face for now’s the time for your tears’
One Of Us (One of us is crying, one of us is lying) – ABBA
Should I Laugh or Cry – ABBA
Singing the Blues (Well I never felt more like crying all night) – Guy Mitchell
Out of sequence, thanks to Peter C for ‘Don’t Cry No Tears’ by X.
Thanks, Smokie, for your Pogues collection. Work by this band is almost invariably of interest and high quality, in my humble opinion.
Thank you, Fisho, for you latest selections; as usual, a range of fine singers are involved, and some ABBA is in the mix. Excellent stuff!
Thanks, Karl, for your Dylan quartet and the accompanying quotations – incidentally, I’ve always found the ‘clown who cried in the alley’ line as strangely disturbing in a range of ways.
Tom Dooley (Hang down your head and cry) – The Kingston Trio
Rose and A Thorn (Broke the little girl’s heart, made the little girl cry) – Webb Pierce
Yellow Rose of Texas (She cried so when I left her) – Mitch Miller also spoof by Stan Freberg
Only the Lonely (But only the lonely know why I cry) – Roy Orbison
That’ll be the Day (When you make me cry) – Buddy Holly
Happy Saturday KD
I wonder how these Dylan lyrics affect you?
Ballad Of Hollis Brown
Your babies are crying louder/It’s pounding on your brain
Your wife’s screams are stabbin’ you/Like the dirty drivin’ rain
To Ramona
(opening line): Ramona, come closer/Shut softly your watery eyes
(closing line): Who knows, baby/I’ll come and be cryin’ to you
Ballad In Plain D
All is gone, all is gone, admit it, take flight
I gagged in contradiction, tears blinding my sight
My mind, it was mangled, I ran into the night
Leaving all of love’s ashes behind me
4th Time Around
When she said, “Don’t waste your words, they’re just lies”
I cried she was deaf
Your latest selections are a fine bunch – thanks Fisho. Particularly pleased to see another Big O song – I do think of him when I think about songs involving crying.
Thanks, Karl, for your latest Dylan. His lyrics are almost invariably interesting, of course, though some are better/more striking than others, as is to be expected.
Hi Kevin, I too am a big Orbison fan. Previously I mentioned my old boyhood friend, PETER SKURRAY who, with his band, The Neons, was quite big in Australia during the early fifties. Later on in life he put together many tributes to artists which he performed in Pubs and Clubs. One of his noted Tributes featured the works of Roy Orbison. One of Pete’s sons, Corey posted his Dad’s quite impressive of “Crying” on You Tube a little while ago. It’s well worth checking out. I love to know your thoughts.
American Pie – Don McLean
I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
A couple of others I can’t believe I didn’t think of yesterday:
Georgy Porgy: Toto
Only people: John Lennon
Thanks, Fisho, I will check out the Peter Skurray version of Crying and get back to you about it. (I’m using my mobile to respond right now – and the reception isn’t brilliant where I am as I write this – not great for YouTube.)
Thanks for American Pie, Karl. Good pickup with the important line involving crying.
It’s Time to Cry – Paul Anka
It Hurts to See You Cry – Paul Anka
I Wake Up Crying – Cliff Richard
Tear Drops – Cliff Richard
Living Doll (Got myself a crying, walking, sleeping talking living doll) – Cliff Richard
Here’s a heap from Connie Francis
Ain’t That a shame ( Ain’t that a shame, my tears fell like rain)
Don’t Tell Me Not to Cry
Many Tears Ago
I’m Sorry I Made You Cry
No One To Cry
I Cried For You
Some of the big guns:
That’s How Strong My Love Is, Otis (I’ll be the weeping willow drowning in my tears/And you can go swimming when you are here/I’ll be the rainbow after the tears are gone/Wrap you in my colors and keep you warm)
Lonesome Whistle, Hank (All alone I bear the shame/I’m a number, not a name/I heard that lonesome whistle blow/All I do is sit and cry/When the evenin’ train goes by/ I heard that lonesome whistle blow)
Bury Me Beneath the Willow, The Carter Family (Oh, bury me beneath the willow/Under the weeping willow tree/So he may know where I am sleeping/And perhaps he will weep for me)
Jolene, Dolly (He talks about you in his sleep/And there’s nothing I can do to keep/From cryin’ when he calls your name, Jolene)
Drown in My own Tears, Aretha (and Ray) (It brings big tears into my eyes/When I began, when I began to realize/That I’ve cried so much, oh since you’ve been gone/I guess I’ll drown in, drown in my own tears)
And one to stir up the stoopid who should be allowed to play country music non-argument that surfaced again with Beyonce’s Grammy. This song is from the early 60s.
Crying Time by Buck Owens. Magnificent song. Ray Charles covered in a couple of years later, on his album named after the song. There are a few more songs on that album which fit this theme as well.
Cheers
The Animals I’m Crying. A belter.
And every country song ever.
I Am I Said
“I am”… I cried
“I am”… said I
Song Sung Blue
Funny thing, but you can sing it with a cry in your voice
Having mentioned Only People (John Lennon), I forgot to think of Jealous Guy.
No Woman, No Cry, Bob Marley & the Wailers
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, Culture Club
The Card Cheat, The Clash
Link Wray; The Earth is Crying
Captain Beefheart; Orange Claw Hammer
“I woke up in vomit ‘n beer in a banana bin
And a soft lass with brown skin
Bore me seven babies with snappin’ black eyes
And beautiful ebony skin
And here is, is I’m with you, my daughter, thirty years
Away can make a seaman’s eyes, a round house man’s eyes
Flow out water, salt water”
The DIRTBOMBS; It’s Not Funny Until They See You Cry
NINA SIMONE/ELLA FITZGERALD; Cry mea river
ARETHA FRANKLIN; Every second song!
CHRIS WILSON (!!!): Look What Dady Done
Eddy Current Suppression Ring; I Can Be a Jerk
“You no I don’t like making you cry,
but I’d rather tell the truth than tell you a lie”
BILLIE HOLIDAY; Weep No More
Mental As Anything; Live It Up
“Hey there you on the dance floor
what do you cry for”
The Headcoats (ft Billie Childish); Your Crying Mean Nothing to Me
MEDICINE HEAD; Over You
“I ain’t crying no more,
you took the tears out of my head.”
LUNGFISH; Hanging Bird
“On the other side you will find
All of the tears you never cried”
PRINCE; Purple Rain/Doves Cry
The Damned; Jet boy, Jet Girl
“God, he was dressed up with a girl around his neck
I could have cried with both my eyes”
SIERA FERRELL: Bells of Every Chapel
CHARLEY CROCKETT (!); I Won’t Cry/I Wanna Cry/Don’t Cry Haha, so many!
JANIS; Cry Baby…
I like my music
Thanks for ‘Georgy Porgy’ and ‘Only People’, Liam – two good songs, which, in my opinion, have better music than lyrics. Love the riffy, boogie feel of ‘Only People’ in particular.
Dragon (1984)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRDn6_0Mpr8
Hi Fisho. I just had a listen to the Peter Skurray version of ‘Crying’ and thought he did a very good job on what is such a difficult song to sing well. Thanks also for the Anka, Richard and Francis songs.
A few more Dylan…..
Tombstone Blues (a couple)
The Commander-in-Chief answers him while chasing a fly
Saying, “Death to all those who would whimper and cry”
…….
Delilah who’s sitting worthlessly alone
But the tears on her cheeks are from laughter
I Wanna Be Your Lover (Blonde On Blonde outtake)
And the walls collide, Mona cries
And the rainman leaves in the Wolfman’s disguise
Tell Me Momma (only ever played on 1966 world tour)
Ol’ black Bascom, don’t break no mirrors
Cold black water dog, make no tears
Yes, Rick, you’ve definitely brought out some of the big guns when it comes to your latest selections! You may guess which one I selected for comment … yes, it’s ‘Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow Tree’, especially the 1927 version recorded by A.P., Sara and Maybelle Carter … listening to this version is like a beautiful walk through American Country Music’s Garden of Eden.
Thanks, Matt Z, for your eclectic, highly interesting, and stimulating selection of songs involving crying – much for us to wrap our listening ears around, so to speak!
Not sure if these have been already mentioned but here goes –
My Heart Cries For You – Guy Mitchell
Goodbye Cruel World (That mean fickle woman made a crying clown out of me) – James darren
Big Girls Don’t Cry – The Four Seasons
Thanks you, Karl, for the Diamond and Dylan selections – they are two surnames one doesn’t generally read in the same sentence, but both are certainly excellent songwriters, of course!
Thanks, Liam, for ‘Jealous Guy’ – the ‘I’m sorry that I made you cry’ line is crucial in it.
Thank you, Russell, for Dragon’s ‘Cry’ – a song I’d forgotten entirely about, but a spot-on pick in terms of our theme.
Thanks, Fisho, for your latest three choices – ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ is an example of a classic ‘crying’ song that I’m surprised wasn’t mentioned before you did so. Great pickup!
Via Con Dios (now the time has come to part, the time for weeping) – Paul and Mary Ford
Here’s another Lennon song to add to this theme:
I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier
Well, i don’t wanna be a failure mama, i don’t wanna cry……
Well, i don’t wanna be a rich man mama, i don’t wanna cry……
Well, i don’t wanna be a churchman mama, i don’t wanna cry
Some more rippers:
Careless, Paul Kelly
I’m Gonna Break Every Heart I Can, Merle
How Much I’ve Lied, Gram
It Takes a Lot to Laugh, Bob
People’s Parties, Joni
Charlie Owen’s Slide Guitar, Paul Kelly
Happy Sunday arvo KD!
I’ve been working on my next Dylan covers article and theme related songs keep dropping into the dropbox of my mind.
First, however, I did want to say how timely this theme is with Marianne Faithfull’s recent passing and her best known track ‘As Tears Go By’ highlighted in your opening at exhibit 6.
Secondly, of all the themes, this has been one of the hardest to track back on to avoid double dipping and we are only into day 3.
Thirdly (and in reference to the last post) I wondered what version of Bob’s ITALTLITATTC Rick is using to attach it to this theme? Certainly not a version that comes to my mind…..
Finally, my latest contribution to theme is:
Teardrops – Womack & Womack
‘Teardrops in my eyes
(Next time I’ll be true, yeah)’
Almost time to close down the system and watch the Aussies win the 2nd test against Sri Lanka. The cricket ground & surrounds are so beautiful. I feel like I’m on holidays.
Here’s four from Gene Pitney –
I Laughed So Hard, I Cried
Cry Your Eyes Out
Just One Smile (Can’t I cry a little bit?)
Teardrop By Teardrop
Thanks for coming up with the goods yet again, Fisho, with your Paul and Mary Ford, and your Gene Pitney selections.
Thanks for Lennon’s ‘I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier’ from the Imagine album, Karl.
I enjoyed reading your latest observations, too.
Re Marianne Faithfull, her inclusion in my initial list was deliberate for a couple of reasons – her very recent passing, as well as the song itself being highly relevant to the ‘crying’ theme were at the forefront of my thinking.
Re double dipping, I agree with your basic sentiment – all of the most popular song themes in this Almanac series at some point require a look back over an extensive list to ensure that songs are not repeated, but maybe this one even moreso – there will most likely be the occasional unintentional repeat of a song, but that’s totally excusable.
Re Rick’s choice of ‘It Takes a Lot to Laugh’, I’ll turn the matter over to him to deal with – I don’t know how it fits, but I’m sure he’ll have a reason.
Finally, thanks for ‘Womack and Womack’s ‘Teardrops’ – certainly right on the money thematically.
Thanks for your recent half-dozen rippers, Rick – a diverse, interesting quality collection. I thought the ‘early Merle’ was a particularly nice touch.
And – oh yes … ‘It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry’ …
Of course, if the the word ‘cry’ is in the title, as in the just-referred to Dylan song, it counts!
Of course, if the word ‘cry’ is in the title, as in the just-referred to Dylan song, it counts!
Oh yes, of course – ITALTLITATT CRY!!! – that will teach me for initialising Dylan songs!
I apologise most sincerely (especially to Rick) and might just Cry A While – a song from Dylan’s 2001 ‘Love & Theft’ album
Well, I cried for you
Now it’s your turn, you can cry awhile
But I’m crying to the Lord
Tryin’ to be meek and mild
I have arrived on this list rather late.
Long Black Veil – The Band (and lots of others including Lefty Frizell who had the first recorded version)
“The scaffold is high, and eternity nears
She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear
But sometimes at night when the cold wind moans
In a long black veil she cries over my bones”
More to come
Hey, I’ve just been to see the Led Zep doco, what did I miss? All good Karl, I’ve been humming A Train to Cry for the last few days before the penny dropped. Then I had to check if you had already posted it. Noting you hadn’t I thought, excellento, I can pop it in. I also had CaW, because I just love the album Love & Theft but figured it would make your list and bang, here it is.
Here’s a throwaway. You Never Even Called Me by My Name, by David Allan Coe, and written by Steve Goodman and John Prine, and there is a whole damned story you can find online about that. Also, Coe’s son has the brilliant podcast and book, Cocaine and Rhinestones, which goes as deep as anything into various artists, histories and strands of country music. Here’s the opening verse: Well, it was all that I could do to keep from cryin’/Sometimes it seemed so useless to remain/But you don’t have to call me darlin’, darlin’/You never even called me by my name. Listen to the song, played by Steve Goodman at a Johnny Cash show to really dig it, especially the last verse.
Oh, and the Led Zep doco? It’s worth seeing and at IMAX if you can for the sound quality. The doco highlights a truly remarkable 18 months from their first rehearsal to converting the US, then the UK and playing Albert Hall. Their individual routes to that first rehearsal are fascinating. Including two of them playing on Goldfinger, by Shirley Bassey. Live versions of songs from the first album are highlights. However, apparently Led Zep have tight control over their songs and legacy, so the doco is a bit colour by numbers. On the flip, because it’s Led Zep, there are times it leans into the grey area between LZ and Spinal Tap. And I got a LZ song re this theme from the doco.
Baby Come on Home (An’ then one day/I said you up’d and walked-a righta outa my life,/Leavin’ me all by myself,/All alone to cry every night).
Cheers
Here are four more from different genres (I haven’t really thought about Folk and Country yet)
I am a Rock – Simon and Garfunkel
“Don’t talk of love
Well I’ve heard the word before
It’s sleeping in my memory
I won’t disturb the slumber of feelings that have died
If I never loved I never would have cried
I am a rock I am an island
Gentle on My Mind – John Hartford
“Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines
And the junkyards and the highways come between us
And some other woman’s cryin’ to her mother
‘Cause she turned and I was gone”
That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be – Carly Simon
“But you say it’s time we moved in together
And raised a family of our own, you and me
Well, that’s the way I’ve always heard it should be
You want to marry me
We’ll marry
[Verse 3]
My friends from college, they’re all married now
They have their houses and their lawns
They have their silent noons
Tearful nights, angry dawns”
Blue Velvet – Tony Bennett (1951) Bobby Vinton (1963) Probably best known now for inspiring the title of the David Lynch movie.
“She wore Blue Velvet
But in my heart there’ll always be
Precious and warm a memory through the years
And I still can see Blue Velvet through my tears”
Great segue to Dylan’s ‘Cry A While’, Karl. Thanks for that one.
Welcome aboard in relation to this crying theme, Dave!
Fine bunch of songs and quoted material, as usual. to pick just one out for comment : ‘I Am A Rock’ has been a favourite of mine since childhood – I think I must have always had a penchant for the poetic and the melodic.
Thanks for your latest couple of songs, as well as the engaging commentary, Rick.
Re Led Zep – they’ve always been a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some stuff of theirs I really like; other stuff doesn’t do much for me at all.
Happy Monday!
Speaking of Led Zep – here’s one of my favourites, ‘That’s The Way” off LZIII.
And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers
But all that lives is born to die
And so I say to you that nothing really matters
And all you do is stand and cry
And, if it hasn’t been added before (and once again showing my age), here’s:
Had To Cry Today – Blind Faith
Happy Monday, to you, too, Karl. Thanks for these two latest songs, both very much of their era and good material, whatever the era.
Springsteen, with more to come:
My City of Ruin (Now there’s tears on the pillow, darlin’, where we slept/And you took my heart when you left/Without your sweet kiss my soul is lost, my friend/Tell me, how do I begin again?)
Downbound Train (Last night, I heard your voice/You were cryin’, cryin’, you were so alone/You said your love had never died/You were waiting for me at home + I rushed through the yard, I burst through the front door/My head pounding hard, up the stairs I climbed/The room was dark, our bed was empty/Then I heard that long whistle whine/And I dropped to my knees, hung my head and cried)
Seven Tears (Went down to see my gypsy man/He said, “Now son, I understand”/When I said, “I want one for every year/He tattooed on my face, these seven tears/Oh, seven tears, oh, seven tears/I want one for every happy year/My baby’s gone, she’s gone, gone, gone/And I’ll cry forever, ever on)
The Rising (Sky of blackness and sorrow (a dream of life)/Sky of love, sky of tears (a dream of life)/Sky of glory and sadness (a dream of life)/Sky of mercy, sky of fear (a dream of life))
Living Proof (Well, now on a summer night/In a dusky room/Come a little piece of the Lord’s undying light/Crying like he swallowed the fiery moon/Well, in his mother’s arms/It was all the beauty I could take/Like the missing words to some prayer/Oh, that I could never make)
Hi Rick. It’s almost invariably an exciting and significant moment when you put your chosen Springsteen songs into our themed songlists. Thank you!
It’s certainly the case this time, partly because you’ve included one of my all-time favourite Bruce numbers in ‘The Rising’. What a song! – imbued as it is with a constant welling up feeling, a kind of religious fervour and one of the best rock choruses ever! (And many would know of its close connection to 9 / 11, especially the firefighters.)
The Rising is a great, moving, heartfelt song. The Rising album is one of his weaker records. However, it does also include, My City of Ruins, which, for me, is an even greater song than The Rising.
Now, some Jason Isbell:
Stockholm
Elephant
Flying Over Water
Souvenirs (cover of a John Prine song)
Daylight (when he was with Drive-By Truckers – now there’s a great rocknroll band)
Cheers
Thanks for the Jason Isbell material, Rick – certainly another quality artist at work there.
Back to Springsteen for a moment… since Ian Wilson’s piece this morning on covers, great cover versions have been on my mind, and one of mine is the Flying Pickets a capella cover of Springsteen’s song, Factory.
Don’t believe these worthy entries have been added until now:
Angie – Rolling Stones
Angie, I still love you
Remember all those nights we cried?
I Started A Joke – Bee Gees
I started to cry which started the whole world laughing
Oh If I’d only seen that the joke was on me
Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying – Gerry & The Pacemakers
Don’t let the sun catch you cryin’
The night’s the time for all your tears
Three worthy entries, indeed, Karl! Many thanks.
Before I go any further – congrats to all involved on our recent century of comments. Wonderful!
And, while I’m here, some really big guns – ladies and gentleman, more from the Beatles (UK album titles mentioned below):
‘Misery’, (‘I’m the kind of guy / Who never used to cry’), from the Please Please Me album;
‘Tell Me Why’ (‘Tell me why you cried and why you lied to me’), from A Hard Day’s Night;
‘I’m A Loser’ (‘My tears are falling like rain from the sky / Is it for her or myself that I cry?’), from Beatles For Sale;
‘For No One’ (‘No sign of love behind the tears / Cried for no one’), from Revolver;
‘She’s leaving Home’ (Standing alone at the top of the stairs / She breaks down and cries to her husband /
Daddy, our baby’s gone), from Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,
and ‘Oh Darling!’ (When you told me you didn’t need me anymore / Well, you know I nearly broke down and cried) from Abbey Road.
Well done on The Beatles songs KD!
As a former Beatle used to say: It’s just another day – and so, another batch of Dylan songs referencing ‘crying’:
Drifters Escape
Well, the judge, he cast his robe aside/A tear came to his eye
“You’d fail to understand”, he said/”Why must you even try?”
I Pity The Poor Immigrant
I pity the poor immigrant/Whose strength is spent in vain
Whose heaven is like ironsides/Whose tears are like rain
Watching The River Flow
People disagreeing on all just about everything, yep
Makes you stop and all wonder why
Why only yesterday I saw somebody on the street
Who just couldn’t help but cry
George Jackson
I woke up this mornin’, there were tears in my bed
They killed a man I really loved, shot him the head
Great, thanks Karl, for your latest Dylan instalment of theme-connected songs. ( Aside: I’ll check out your latest Almanac piece some time today.)
I think I’ve now got the Beatles ‘crying’ songs covered pretty well, but suspect there’s still a few yet to be unearthed.
And I just thought of another Beatles number, ‘The Long and Winding Road’ from the Let it Be album. Here’s the relevant section (fine McCartney lyric, by the way):
‘The wild and windy night
That the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here?
Let me know the way
Many times I’ve been alone
And many times I’ve cried
Anyway, you’ll never know
The many ways I’ve tried’
Dang Me (Woman would you weep for me?) – Roger Miller
Knee Deep in the Blues (My heart is flowing with tears) – Guy Mitchell or Marty Robbins
It’s Better to Cry Today – Patsyann Noble
Here’s three from the Dave Clark Five –
Your Turn To Cry
If You Wanna See Me Cry
Crying Over You
Thank you, Fisho, for your latest additions. Some fine additions to our theme. Especially liked Roger Miller’s Dang Me – what an excellent songwriter and performer that guy was!
And here’s three from The Hollies –
Laughter turns to Tears
Baby Don’t Cry
We’re Through (And now my crying days are through)
Thank you for the three Hollies songs, Fisho. They are one of the better British bands of the sixties, in my humble opinion.
Someone’s pinched My Winkles (The tears of sheer frustration, trickling down my face) – Rolf Harris
Two Little Boys (Did you think I would leave you crying) – Rolf Harris
Crying on Each Other’s Shoulders – Slim Dusty and Anne Kirkpatrick
Good morning
First off, Sex Object by Dave Warner’s from the Suburbs and I reckon this song presents the first use of the term, lacrimation in reference to this theme.
+
Too Stoned to Cry, an Andrew Combs song, covered by Margo Price, featuring Billy Strings, who is touring in July, highly recommended (As lonely as the days are long/As dark as the night bird’s song/Strange way of livin’ has bled my heart dry/I’m lonesome, but I’m too stoned to cry)
Hillbilly Highway, Steve Earle (Granddaddy rolled over in his grave the day that I quit school/I just sat around the house playin’ my guitar, and Daddy said I was a fool/My mama cried when I said goodbye, I never heard such a lonesome sound/Now I’m standin’ on this highway and if you’re going my way/You know where I’m bound)
I Never Saw Him Cry, Sam Outlaw, song released yesterday from Sam’s upcoming album, and the title is self-explanatory, about his old man, v touching.
Atomic Power, Uncle Tupelo, actually, The Louvin Brothers, a sad gospel reflective song from the early 50s considering a world, living in the shadow of the destructive power of nuclear explosive devices, which still resonates today (Are you, are you ready/For that great atomic power?/Will you rise and meet your Savior in the air?/Will you shout or will you cry/When the fire rains from on high?/Are you ready for that great atomic power?)
Hey KD – pretty sure, but a little surprised this song by the iconic Hunters & Collectors has not been added in before now:
True Tears Of Joy – 1992 Cut album
Come on confess with confusion… spread it around
They trickle down your cheek…tears fall like seed on barren ground
Your thoughts are scattered like paper everywhere
Tiny piece of laughter and despair
But you cry true tears of joy
Thanks, Fisho, for your latest three – especially good to see Slim and his daughter get a guernsey.
Thanks for your latest interesting (mainly country) offering, Rick. Interesting that the intriguing Louvin Brothers song, Atomic Power, has reappeared in of these themed comments lists. It’s a song that I feel could be easily misinterpreted by today’s listeners.
Correction – third last line immediately above should read
… has reappeared in one of these themed comments…
Thank you for the Hunters song, Karl.
Interesting in this context that Throw Your Arms Around Me, one of my all-time favourite Australasian songs, also contains a reference to crying.
More Springsteen, starting with my fave Bruce song:
Backstreets
(Endless juke joints and Valentino drag
Where dancers scraped the tears up off the street dressed down in rags
Running into the darkness, some hurt bad some really dying
At night sometimes it seemed you could hear that whole damn city crying
Blame it on the lies that killed us, blame it on the truth that ran us down
You can blame it all on me Terry, it don’t matter to me now
When the breakdown hit at midnight there was nothing left to say
But I hated him and I hated you when you went away)
Racing in the Streets (But now there’s wrinkles around my baby’s eyes/And she cries herself to sleep at night/When I come home, the house is dark/She sighs, “Baby, did you make it alright?”)
Incident on 57th Street (And the pimps swung their axes and said, “Johnny, you’re a cheater”/Well, the pimps swung their axes and said, “Johnny, you’re a liar”/And from out of the shadows came a young girl’s voice/Said, “Johnny, don’t cry”)
Spare Parts (Janey heard about a woman over in Calverton/Put her baby in the river let the river roll on/She looked at her boy in the crib where he lay/Got down on her knees cried till she prayed)
Highway 29 (It was a small town bank, it was a mess/Well I had a gun, you know the rest/Money on the floorboards, shirt was covered in blood and she was crying/Her and me we headed south on highway 29)
Dear God -XTC ‘ We all need a big reduction in amount of tears’
Van Morrison – Sometimes We Cry (off his 1997 Healing Game album)
Sometimes we know, sometimes we don’t
Sometimes we give, sometimes we won’t
Sometimes we’re strong, sometimes we’re wrong
Sometimes we cry
Some more fabulous Bruce material – thanks, Rick. Love the telling quotations, too!
Thanks, Swish, for XTC’s ‘Dear God’ – very good song from a very good band, who so often came up with inventive and left-of-centre pop/rock music.
Van is often the Man – as in this instance: thanks for ‘Sometimes We Cry’, Karl.
Continuing my cataloguing of Beatles ‘crying songs’ … this time it’s a move into relative rarity territory:
‘I Call Your Name’, a Lennon-McCartney number released on The Beatles’ Second Album (actual title) in the USA and the Long Tall Sally EP in the UK in 1964 (and previously released in 1963 by Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas, as the B-side of a single ‘Bad to Me’, also by Lennon and McCartney)): ‘Oh, I can’t sleep at night / But just the same / I never weep at night / I call your name’;
‘The Night Before’ – OK, not really a rarity, being on the Help! album (1965), but I’d contend it’s a lesser-known song in the context of the Beatles body of work: ‘Last night is a night I will remember you by / When I think of things we did it makes me want to cry’;
‘I’m Down’, B-side to the ‘Help!’ single (1965). McCartney channels his inner Little Richard in the vocals on this rocker.
Bleeding Heart – The Johnnys
“All your friends are dying, except for me
So just you stop your cryin’, baby
I know it’s a lonely life that you gotta lead”
Smut – Skyhooks
“If your mother knew what you were doing
She’d probably hang her head and cry”
Thanks for your latest two, Swish. Red Symons’ ‘Smut’ is certainly a piece of work, isn’t it?!
It’s Wednesday – and time for another dive into the Dylan anthology…..
Tears Of Rage – a 1968 co-write between Dylan & Richard Manuel.
Buckets Of Rain – off the 1975 Blood on the Tracks album
‘Buckets of rain
Buckets of tears
Got all them buckets comin’ out of my ears’
Baby, Stop Crying – off the 1978 Street Legal album
‘You know, I know, the sun will always shine
So baby, please stop crying ’cause it’s tearing up my mind’
Thanks, Karl, for ‘Tears Of Rage’, ‘Buckets Of Rain’ and ‘Baby, Stop Crying’. As I’ve already written in various ways, Bob is a wonderful friend of this long-running Almanac series of themed popular music pieces.
Is this the most ‘cryingest’ song ever?
4.003.221 Tears – Judy Stone (1964)
Four million three thousand two hundred twenty-one
Tears from now
Maybe then I will have cried you
Out of my heart
Hey Karl, I reckon Judy have over-egged the metaphor or that’s a lot of tears to cry, maybe too many.
Now some Aussie stuff, every one of them a great song, that we haven’t got to after 130 posts:
Right Here, The Go-Betweens
Flame Trees, Cold Chisel
Darling it Hurts, Paul Kelly
Cry Like a Baby, Kasey Chambers
Pedestrian at Best, Courtney Barnett
Yes, Karl, I ‘m familiar with that Judy Stone song – excellent pickup!
Thanks, Rick, for your most recent choices – a fine Oz quintet, to be sure.
Not Beatles ‘crying songs’ this time, but certainly Lennon-McCartney compositions – ‘Bad to Me’, recorded by Billy J Kramer with the Dakotas in 1963 (released in the UK in 1963 and the USA in 1964):
‘The leaves on the trees would be softly sighin’
If they heard from the breeze that you left me cryin’…’
‘I’ll Be on My Way’, originally recorded and released by Billy J Kramer with the Dakotas in early 1963, before the above song. The Beatles did not release this on any official record around that time, but did record a version of it for their BBC radio show in 1963:
‘Just one kiss and I’ll go
Don’t hide the tears that don’t show’
Can’t forget Kate Bush…
‘Cloudbusting’, from the Hounds of Love album (1985):
‘I still dream of Orgonon
I wake up crying’
More Kate Bush – just remembered the wonderful ‘Suspended in Gaffa’ from The Dreaming album (1982):
‘I don’t know why I’m crying
Am I suspended in Gaffa?’
A couple more for today – Valentines Eve
Romeo & Juliet – Dire Straits (1980)
“Juliet, when we made love, you used to cry
You said ‘I love you like the stars above, I’ll love you ’til I die’
There’s a place for us, you know the movie song
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong, Juliet?”
Sometimes When We Touch – Dan Hill (1977)
I wanna hold you ’til I die
‘Til we both break down and cry
I wanna hold you
‘Til the fear in me subsides
When I previously mentioned Belinda Carlisle, I forgot to include Do you feel like I feel?
Thanks for the two ‘Valentine’s Eve’ songs, Karl.
What a big, sprawling, highly interesting songlist this crying theme has elicited!
And thanks, Liam, for ‘Do You Feel Like I Feel?’
And here’s a few not so Valentine’s Day prep songs:
River, Joni (I wish I had a river so long/I would teach my feet to fly/Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on/I made my baby cry)
All My Tears, Emmylou (It don’t matter/Where you bury me/I’ll be home and I’ll be free/It don’t matter/Anywhere I lay/All my tears be washed away)
A Little Bit Lonesome, Kasey (Well, I’m a little bit lonesome, I’m a little bit blue/I can’t stop cryin’ since I lost you/There’s a pain in my heart like a lightenin’ bolt/I’m a little bit lonesome it’s all your fault)
Satin Sheets, Loretta (Satin sheets to lie on, satin pillows to cry on/But still I’m not happy don’t you see/Big long Cadillacs, pretty clothes upon my back/But still I want you to set you free)
World without Tears, Lucinda (If we lived in a world without tears/How would misery know/Which back door to walk through/How would trouble know/Which mind to live inside of/How would sorrow find a home)
Wonderful material – thanks Rick. Just had a listen to Joni and Lucinda, for example, and was transported.
I don’t think this theme will be closing up shop for a good while yet…..
Here’s a uniquely Aussie contribution:
Australiana – Austen Tayshus (1983)
Sitting at home last Sunday morning, me mate Boomer rang
Said he was having a few people around for a barbie, said he might cook a burro or two
I said, “Sounds great, will Walla be there?”
He said, “Yeah and Vejja might come too”
So I said to the wife, “Do you wanna go, Anna?”
She said, “I’ll go if Ding goes”
So I said, “What’ll we do about Nulla?”
He said, “Nulla bores me to tears, leave him at home”
I agree, Karl. The tears are still flowing – in terms of our songlist – and show no sign of drying up.
Thanks for ‘Australiana’.
Agree re the flow of tears and crying related song. Here’s a few from bands that were deemed “rock” in the 70s – yeah, sure. These bands (they’re not bad, just mostly ordinary, and they do have a few good to great songs between them) are one of the reasons punk was sooooooo needed. I haven’t bothered with lyrics because that would sadden us all.
Carry on Wayward Son, Kansas
Tears, Rush
Boys Cry Tough, Bad Company
Winter and My Soul, GFR
Lonely Teardrops, Blue Oyster Cult
Thanks for these, Rick. Part of the proverbial rich tapestry when it comes to our theme.
And yes, I certainly agree with your point that punk was so needed in the era concerned.
Dear KD
It’s been a long while since the team has come close to nudging 150. Here’s a gentle prod to mid on for another notch…..inching ever closer……
True Love Tends To Forget – Dylan (1978)
You’re a tearjerker, baby, but I’m under your spell,
You’re a hard worker, baby, and I know you well.
But this weekend in hell is making me sweat,
True love, true love, true love tends to forget,
Well, if we’re gunna get to 150, let’s do it with top shelf material. Like these:
The Harder they Come, Jimmy Cliff
I Paid for the Party, The Enchanters
Suspicious Minds, Elvis
Cry On, Irma Thomas
Man with the Blues, Willie Nelson
It’s All in the Game (Many a tear has to fall) Tommy Edwards
Delilah Jones (Delilah weep for Delilah) – The McGuire Sisters
Sobbin’ Women – Howard Keel from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Happy Valentines Day KD!
Here’s the song that one least wants to ‘own’ on this day
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers
And baby, I remember
All the things you taught me
I learned how to laugh
And I learned how to cry
Well, I learned how to love
And learned how to lie
Thanks for the nifty Dylan single, Karl. (Hard to imagine Bob in full cricket regalia!).
Congratulations to all concerned in terms of our 150 milestone!
Thanks, Rick, for your latest five; to select just one of them for comment – for me, ‘Suspicious Minds’ is one of the best of later (say, post mid-sixties) recordings by the King.
Thank you for your latest three, Fisho (i.e. Tommy Edwards, McGuire Sisters, Howard Keel).
Happy Valentine’s Day to you, also, Karl – and for the un-Valentine’s Day song!
A couple of Dylan to kick off the weekend:
Where Are You Tonight (Journey Through Dark Heat) – 1978 (off Street Legal album)
There’s a long distance train rolling through the rain
Tears on the letter I write
There’s a woman I long to touch and I missin’ her so much
But she’s drifting like a satellite
I Believe In You – 1979 (off Slow Train Coming album)
I believe in you even through the tears and the laughter,
I believe in you even though we be apart
Thanks, Karl, for your two latest Dylan choices. The drifting like a satellite image is a particularly surprising one.
I don’t even know myself: The Who
Texarkana: REM (lyrics include 40,000 tears in your eye)
Well, Lou gave us the Satellite Of Love in ’72 and I guess it was still drifting up there in ’78.
Thanks, Liam, for your latest selections – two good songs, and REM are/were just about my favourite American band.
Lou and Bob – interesting connection. Thanks, Karl.
Has anybody posted these four from Brenda Lee?
Cry
You Got Me Crying Again
Crying Time
Ain’t gonna Cry No More
Primal Scream
Cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry
I’m gonna cry myself blind
Cry, cry, cry
Cry, cry, cry
I’m gonna cry myself blind
Thank you for the Brenda Lee four, Fisho. I’ve just had another look through our very long list and can’t see them there before you put them forward.
Thanks, Broady, for ‘(I’m Gonna) Cry Myself Blind’ – fine song!
‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, written by Tobias Gad and Stacy Ferguson, released as a single by Fergie in 2007.For me, it’s a fine song with a fabulous chorus:
‘I hope you know, I hope you know
That this has nothing to do with you
It’s personal, myself and I
We got some straightening out to do
And I’m gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket
But I’ve got to get a move on with my life
It’s time to be a big girl now
And big girls don’t cry
Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry’
To add another non-Beatles song credited to Lennon-McCartney (though basically a Paul composition): ‘I Don’t Want to See You Again’, released by Peter and Gordon in 1964:
‘…Why do I cry at night?
Something wrong could be right
I hear you say to me
“I don’t wanna see you again”…’
Must be time for a couple more Dylan…..both from 1985’s Empire Burlesque album.
The line from the second song (WTNCFFTS) is particularly impressive.
I’ll Remember You
Didn’t I, didn’t I try to love you?
Didn’t I, didn’t I try to care?
Didn’t I sleep, didn’t I weep beside you
With the rain blowing in your hair.
When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky
In your teardrops I can see my own reflection
Thanks, Karl – excellent to see that Bob (via you) is still coming up with the thematic goods!
I totally agree with you about the line in the second song, too.
I’m on a bit of a roll this morning … just thought of another Beatles-recorded number (credited to Lennon-McCartney – this one basically John) involving crying. It’s not among their better-known numbers, being originally the B-side of ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ in the UK, in 1963 – the song is ‘This Boy’, a beautiful song containing some exquisite Lennon-McCartney-Harrison harmonies.
The bridge of ‘This Boy’ contains the lyrics:
‘Oh, and this boy would be happy
Just to love you, but oh my
That boy won’t be happy
‘Til he’s seen you cry’
Wow KD – JL/PMc are holding their own against the Nobel Laureate on this topic.
So far, on this topic, we know that:
Boys Dont Cry
Big Girls Dont Cry
Ian Tyson, of Four Strong Winds fame also wrote:
Cowboys Don’t Cry – 1989, off the ‘I Outgrew The Wagon’ album.
Here’s a few from Peggy Lee
There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’s Worth the Salt Of My Tears
A Bucket of Tears
Jim (Why am I crying these bitter tears?)
Easy Does It (So you gave yourself to strangers who left you crying at first light)
Yes, Karl, so much Lennon / McCartney material is specifically about love and relationships, so there’s a fair bit of crying involved! (And I still haven’t explored their solo careers in any detail yet.) Also, incidentally, according to Guinness World Records, McCartney is the most commercially successful songwriter in popular music history.
Thanks for ‘Cowboys Don’t Cry’, too.
Thank you, Fisho, for your Peggy Lee four.
Here’s a few non-Dylan contributions to the cause:
Richard Thompson – Tear Stained Letter
Jackson Browne – Here Come Those Tears Again
John Hammond Jr – Sky Is Crying
…and yes, McCartney holds the gold medal for commercial success, including number of covers of his songs by others. Dylan does OK – probably 2nd most covered artist after McCartney but still a long long way behind.
Thanks for your latest non-Dylan songs, Karl.
It’s good to know that McCartney and Dylan are on friendly terms, too, from what I’ve read – being big admirers of each other’s talent. Dylan has particular admiration for Macca’s gift as a melodist and has said something like all he (McCartney) has to do is open his mouth and a beautiful melody comes out.
Hi KD, you know this theme could just have been George Jones songs. Sad as and beautifully sung. Here’s a taster, more to come:
Golden Ring, George Jones and Tammy Wynette
Keep the Change, George and Tammy
My Tears are Overdue, just George
Where Does a Little Tear Come From, more George
Tender Years, sad as George
and now, the end is near …..to this theme……
I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way
Oh, no, oh, no, not me
I did it my way
Yes, Rick, George Jones – a big contributor to ‘crying songs’.Thanks for your selections. I’ll put forward another of Jones’ classics in that context, ‘A Good Year for the Roses’:
‘And from the bedroom those familiar sounds
Of our one baby’s cryin’ goes unheard’
Love ‘My Way’, Karl – especially Sinatra’s rendition. Thanks for this fine inclusion.
Here’s another from the olden days….
That Lucky Old Sun – Frankie Lane (1949) – reached #1 on Billboard
Good Lord above, can’t You know I’m pining
Tears all in my eyes
Send down that cloud with a silver lining
Lift me to Paradise
BTW – Dylan did a cover of this song on his 2014 ‘Shadows Of The Night’ album
Thank you for the Frankie Laine song, Karl…and a Dylan connection to boot!
Hey Karl, I quote LoS in my FA blurb as well :)
Some good to great country singer-songwriters and GnRs:
A Sad Country Song, David Allan Coe
She Aint Going Nowhere, Guy Clark
Tecumseh Valley, Townes Van Zandt
It Aint Over Yet, Rodney Crowell (with Rosanne Cash)
Patience, Guns’n’Roses
More George:
Here in the Real World, GJ (An Alan Jackson song, recorded by George in the 2000s and I’m sure Alan would bow to George’s version)
Why Baby Why, GJ (a George original from the mid 50s and still sounds as good today, 70 years later)
Good Old-Fashioned Cry, GJ (early 60s)
A Little Bitty Tear, GJ (also covered by Burl Ives, Wanda Jackson, Webb Pierce, Bing Crosby, Don Gibson, and others but just go straight to George)
I’ve Been Known to Cry, GJ (another early 60s song)
Over a 50 years career, while George wrote quite a few of his songs, he relied on a huge number of songwriters for the bulk of his catalogue. And like Elvis, his instinct was as good as his voice. Sure, he didn’t get it right every time, but when he did, wow. Even on lesser songs, he knew his voice so well and what he could do with it, he elevated the song. In ways, many, many times, the songwriter could not have imagined.
Thanks for your latest five choices, Rick. Overall, as usual, we’re putting together an excellent songlist! I always listen to a good proportion of them as the list grows longer – a highly interesting and so often pleasurable experience.
And thank you, Rick, for your latest GJ material and the accompanying comments – highly interesting, informative and illuminating work about a fine artist.
‘Japanese Tears’, a single written and released by Denny Laine in 1980. The song appeared on Laine’s album of the same name in the same year. ‘Weep for Love’, a considerably better song than ‘Japanese Tears’ in my opinion, also appeared on this album. (Some nice open tuning guitar in this latter song.)
Still a bit of life in this theme KD as we inch towards 200………
Up To Me – Dylan (1974 Blood On The Tracks outtake; released on 1985 Biograph)
We both heard voices for a while, now the rest is history
Somebody’s got to cry some tears
I guess it must be up to me
Thanks so much, Karl, for ‘Up To Me’.
Reaching 200 is looking promising!
60s Soul, the best of the best:
I’ll Try Not to Cry, The Supremes and The Four Tops (yep, they had a couple of albums together)
I Wish it Would Rain and I Couldn’t Cry if I Wanted To, The Temptations (I’m tearing up just humming along)
Baby, Baby Don’t Cry, I Can’t Stand to See You Cry, and I Cry, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (Smokey frickin Robinson, what a magnificent singer, and song writer, producer, performer and band leader. Oh, yeah)
Sixties soul! Wonderful! Probably an under-represented genre in our themed songlists. Thanks, Rick.
(Smokie Robinson was a significant influence on early Beatles material, like This Boy, mentioned not far back in this list.)
Excellent song – Zombie by The Cranberries …. In your head, in your head, they are crying…
The wonderfully sincere insights and wit of the droll and acerbic Mr Warren Zevon. No need to include lyrics, you already know these songs and if you don’t, go have a listen and be ready to be impressed:
My Shit’s Fucked Up
She’s Too Good for Me
Veracruz
Prison Grove
Heartache Spoken Here
Dylan – Where Teardrops Fall (off the 1989 Oh Mercy album)….
(‘spoiler alert’ – not the best lyrics written by the Nobel Laureate)
Roses are red violets are blue
And times is beginning to crawl
I just might have come to see you
Where teardrops fall
Thanks, Rick, for five fine songs from wonderful, witty, wry, wascally Warren – what a top-rank songwriter!
Thanks, Karl, for ‘Where Teardrops Fall’ – maybe not Bob’s best lyrics, but still a good overall song, I feel, with a pleasantly drifty feel.
‘I’m Not in Love’, by Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman, recorded by 10cc (1975) has a whispered interlude in which the following is said:
‘Be quiet, Big boys don’t cry, Big boys don’t cry, Big boys don’t cry, Big boys don’t cry, Big boys don’t cry, Big boys don’t cry’
Now, an ubeat, catchy country/pop song recorded by Faith Hill – ‘This Kiss’ (1998). The song begins:
‘I don’t want another heartbreak
I don’t need another turn to cry…’
Interestingly, in 2024, ‘This Kiss’ made it onto Rolling Stone magazine’s ‘200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time’ list.
More big guns (if they haven’t been cited yet):
Dreaming with Tears in my Eyes, Jimmie Rodgers, and covered by Bono on the JR tribute album, not too shabby
Daddy Don’t Cry, Elvis, no explanation needed, file under saddest songs
Golden Slumbers, The Beatles (with Carry that Weight and The End) – Macca ended the 50th anniversary SNL show with this medley and brought a room full of celebs to their feet and tears, and we have been fortunate to see Macca twice in 7 years perform this incredible medley in concert!
Standing in the Doorway, His Bobness (sorry Karl, needed to get Bob in with this post), great song from his 4th best album since 1997, would have been better if Lanois’ heavy handed fingerprints weren’t all over it, oh, and I love Bonnie Raitt’s version.
Glory Days, Bruce – while the official version of this song is a ripper, on an earlier version on bootleg albums (remember them!) there is an extra verse about his father which really brings the tempo down but makes the song’s intent clearer.
That’s How I Got to Memphis, Tom T Hall, one of his best by one of the best
Hey KD, This Kiss is a great country song but pleeeaasseeee don’t go to RS for their views on country music. They get it kinda right maybe 60% of the time. On that same “list” they have Webb Pierce’s There Stands the Glass at 127. It’s a much greater song than that. Which, by the by, can also be added to this theme’s list! Cheers
Thanks for your latest impressive contributions, Rick. Yes, I’ve seen the Macca SNL performance you just mentioned. And Glory Days is just about my favourite song on the Born in the USA album, though there are certainly a few contenders.
Regarding Rolling Stone, I don’t go to it as any kind of authority on what’s best in terms of song quality. All I noted was that I found it interesting that This Kiss made it onto their country top 200 – this surprised me somewhat. The song is certainly good, but probably not THAT good. All opinions on such matters are just that – opinions. We are all entitled to have them, though some are more informed/educated than others.
Rolling Stone lists of best singers, songs, songwriters and such things, to my way of thinking, are typically, inevitably (I suppose), USA-centric and strongly influenced by recency bias, as well as the musical tastes of those compiling them. If we take such issues into account, we’re on the right track.
Hey KD & RK
This is post 199, so someone can have the honour of ‘200’ soon.
I didn’t have Standing On The Doorway on my list, so thanks RK for adding that one. I love how you rank ‘TOOM’ as Bob’s 4th best album since 1997.
Here is my final Dylan contribution to the theme – and talking of cover versions – Tom Jones ‘kills’ this song in the most negative way of expressing ‘kill’!
What Good Am I – from Oh Mercy (1989)
What good am I if I’m like all the rest,
If I just turned away, when I see how you’re dressed,
If I shut myself off so I can’t hear you cry,
What good am I?
Hi Karl, I have your post listed as 200 so metaphoric fireworks are being let off right about now. In order, my Bob albums from 1997 on are L&T, MT, RaRW, then TooM. They are all top notch, only a wafer thin wafer between them and Lanois productions mostly bores me.
KD, yer right about RS lists. Good as reference and to get the blood pressure rising.
Now, more crying songs!
Thanks, Karl and Rick, for your latest choices / comments.
Great to see the 200 mark passed. Some fine songs and highly interesting comments along the journey. Congrats to all involved.
Don’t think these have been added-
Cry In Shame- Johnny Diesel & The Injectors
Cry- The Mavis’s
Still going:
No Charge, Melba Montgomery first recorded this song but if you grew up in the 70s you would remember JJ Barrie’s version which was a big hit. Some might be put off by its sentimentality, but at its heart it is a beautiful evocation of a parent’s love for their children. And Johnny Cash also recorded it so back off.
Speaking of Johnny, here’s a couple of his from the 50s:
So Doggone Lonesome
Home of the Blues
If you don’t know these songs, and a bunch of others from the 50s, get on it. He had already set the bar so high, 10 years before recoding that magnificent live album at Folsom. You can understand why Dylan, the late 50s, early 60s being his formative years, was so struck with Johnny. What a singer, what a songwriter.
Thanks, Luke, for your two selections, neither of which are anywhere on our extensive list until you put them forward. Good pickups!
Thanks, Rick, for your latest material – I especially enjoyed the focus on The Man in Black. At the back of my mind, I had the notion that he should have received more representation in this current ‘crying’ list.
Coupla Cold Chisel numbers: ‘My Turn to Cry’ and ‘Choir Girl’ (‘cryin’ like a refugee’).
Just to let everyone know: NEW SONG THEME ON FRIDAY 28 FEB.
I heard the news today oh boy…
Snowy Fleet, Easybeats drummer, passed this week.
Not sure if this is on our list but here it is anyway…
Easybeats – Cry, Cry, Cry (1965)
Go with him and have your fun
I think I’ll chase the rising sun
I won’t be here if you come home
Cause I’ll be gone, gone to cry
Gone to cry, cry, cry
Thanks, Karl, for this topical choice. Pretty sure the song is not already on the list, though there are different songs with this name.
One that’s been on the edge of consciousness for days – Don’t Cry Out Loud, written by Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen, recorded by various artists, including Allen and Melissa Manchester.
Boys Cry – Original Mirrors
Thanks for ‘Boys Cry’, Swish – a sharp, succinct song.
Eric Clapton’s 1976 ‘No Reason To Cry’ album includes:
Innocent Times
‘I was a child born without fear;
It seems that time has placed me here.
With no freedom to laugh, there’s more reason to cry.
I really miss those innocent times.’
Thanks for ‘Innocent Times’, Karl – a likeable song.
Down in Lorne for the weekend celebrating a friend’s 60th and swimming. Here’s a few cry themed songs that came up on our playlist on the drive down:
Losing My Religion, REM
Too Hot to Move, The Triffids
Janey Don’t You Lose Heart, Bruce
That’s How I Got To Memphis, Tom T
Hey KD – it’s a late Sunday afternoon and a thunder storm is rumbling along the lower Blue Mountains.
I’ve been saving a special (to me) song/lyric for a couple of weeks now – and as this is likely to be my final contribution to this theme, I will add it now….
Treasure – The Cure (from the 1996 Wild Mood Swings album).
‘She whispers “Please remember me When I am gone from here”
She whispers “Please remember me but not with tears”
Remember I was always true, Remember that I always tried,
Remember I loved only you, Remember me and smile
For it’s better to forget, Than to remember me
And cry’
For a few years now I have been contemplating wherever the line that reads: ‘Remember me and smile’ would be a fitting line to an epitaph. I am swayed towards the positive.
Thanks,, Rick, for your latest four – ‘Too Hot To Move’, incidentally, first came my way via the version of it on the 80s ABC series ‘Sweet and Sour’. It’s a wonderful song, in my opinion.
Thanks, for ‘Treasure’ by The Cure, Karl – it’s a fine song with a fine sentiment.
You want it sadder? Shannon by Henry Gross:
Another day’s at end
Mama says she’s tired again
No one can even begin to tell her
I hardly know what to say
But maybe it’s better that way
If poppa were here I’m sure he’d tell her
Shannon is gone I heard
She’s drifting out to sea
She always loved to swim away
Maybe she’ll find an island
With a shaded tree
Just like the one in our backyard
Mama tries hard to pretend
That things will get better again
Somehow she’s keepin’ it all inside her
But finally the tears fill our eyes
And I know that somewhere tonight
She knows how much we really miss her
Shannon is gone I heard
She’s drifting out to sea
She always loved to swim away
Maybe she’ll find an island
With a shaded tree
Just like the one in our back yard
Ah
Just like the one in our back yard
Thanks, Rick, for ‘Shannon’ – there’s nothing like a sad song about an animal to tug at our heartstrings
‘Save Your Tears’ a single from the album, The Big Wha-Koo, by American band Wha-Koo (1977) – they were a fine band live. I saw them on a bill with Thin Lizzy at the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne in 1978, when I was sixteen.
‘Teddy Boy’, written and performed by Paul McCartney, from his album McCartney (1970). The song begins:
‘This is the story of a boy named Ted
If his mother said, “Ted, be good”, he would
She told him tales about his soldier dad
But it made her sad, then she’d cry, oh my…’
Good morning KD!
Almost time for a new theme….I can start to feel theme withdrawal.
I noticed that Robert John passed away earlier this week. I appreciate he is not a household name, but in 1979 he had a #1 hit with ‘Sad Eyes’. With a title like that, you must expect some tears…..
‘Sad eyes, turn the other way
I don’t want to see you cry
Sad eyes, you knew there’d come a day
When we would have to say “goodbye”‘
Thanks so much for ‘Sad Eyes’, Karl.
Yes, it’s almost new theme time – it will be up and running tomorrow, Friday 28 February..
Well, until then, we can keep throwing in songs, so here are a few more:
The Man who Couldn’t Cry, Johnny covering an old Loudon Wainwright III song
Tears of the Lonely, Don Williams (one of the finest country singers)
It Makes Me Want to Cry, Charlie Rich (top shelf country artist)
Goodbye, Steve Earle (beautiful sad song)
Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down, great young country artist, Sierra Ferrell covering a song by Charlie Poole from 1925!
Thanks, Rick, for your latest six choices. When it comes to most thematic songlists, the country realm is so often fertile territory to mine – or maybe plough is a better word! Of course, there’s no specific end to contributions to any of the song themes in this Almanac series – anyone’s free to add more song choices at any time.
More from Belinda Carlisle:
I need a disguise
Thanks, Liam, for I Need A Disguise. On account of you, Belinda Carlisle is particularly well represented in terms of this crying theme.
Don’t wanna: Electric Light Orchestra Part II
Tin legs and tin mines: Midnight Oil
The laughing policeman – Charles Penrose
Thanks, Liam, for your latest two. Speaking of legs, it’s clear that this theme has still got them – legs, that is!
Thanks, Fisho. It seems clear The Laughing Policeman should belong to our new theme list.
Ginny In the Mirror (Ginny with the laughing eyes) – Del Shannon.
These Boots are Made for walking (You keep thinking you’ll never get burned. HAH) – Nancy Sinatra
Nancy With the Laughing Face – Frank Sinatra
Thanks, Fisho. These latest song choices of yours are part of our new (laughing theme) song list. We’re dealing with crying in this current list of comments. (Scroll back and check, if you like.)
Sorry Kevin, I’m a goose. I’ll transfer them.
Thanks, Fisho – all good!
She don’t care about time: The Byrds
Thanks for ‘She Don’t Care About Time’, Liam.
‘I laugh with her, cry with her, hold her close she is mine…’
Among my favourite Australasian country music songs is one called Tex Loves Daisy written and recorded by Brent Parlane. Two versions of the song are available – one on his 1994 album called (yes) Tex Loves Daisy, and another on his 1999 album,The Closest. The relevant part of the song in terms of our theme is in the first verse, where crying is specifically mentioned.
For those who don’t know, Parlane was born in New Zealand, and has lived in Australia since he was a young man.
Good get Kevin. I have always thought Tex Loves Daisy was a very good song. I also think that Brent Parlane should have had a far more prominent career than he actually has had.
Thanks for your comments, Dave.
I agree that he should have had a much more prominent career, given his talent.
Interestingly, a few years ago, I was trying to track down a personal CD copy of Tex Loves Daisy (i.e. one of the albums the song was on), and I ended up buying one via Brent himself – I messaged him and he replied, saying that he thought he had some copies in a box in the shed! We exchanged details, I sent him some money, and it promptly arrived in the mail.